2022 Lake County annual meeting

Lake County Farm Bureau held its 2022 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Community Building, 1301 Mentor Ave, Painesville, Ohio.

The evening began with a Social Hour for Farm Bureau members, elected officials, and candidates for the November 2022 election. Our Clam Baker Dinner was catered by Rockway Catering. Attendees enjoyed baked chicken, clams, and more. County board trustees and local businesses also donated Chinese Auction items. The raffle proceeds go to the Farm Bureau scholarship fund.

There were 47 in attendance at the 2022 Annual Meeting. County President Steve Ohmes presided over the event. Board trustees were voted on and elected for 2-year terms. Those elected are Ted Clutter, Steve Lucic, Steve Ohmes, Ryan Wheeler and Donald Jacobson.  Brad Bly and Ryan Wheeler were elected to serve as delegates to the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in 2023.  

2022 Lake County Farm Bureau business meetingFarm Bureau members voted on the policies that guide the county Farm Bureau and established member positions for proposals to Ohio Farm Bureau, which will be voted on at the 2022 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in December.  Policy positions included agriculture’s role in funding for county Ag programs, woodland management, agricultural education programs, land conservation, standardized software diagnostic codes for agricultural equipment, and more. 

Several code changes were presented and all passed, including a dues increase to $100 effective Dec. 1, 2022.

Scholarship recipients

Anya Demshar, Paige Lucic and Julia Bystrom were acknowledged as the 2022 Lake County Farm Bureau scholarship recipients. All were represented by their parents since classes have started already.

Distinguished Service Award

Marie MorrisMarie Morris was recognized with the Distinguished Service to Ag award for her 32 years of service as an office administrator for the Lake County Farm Bureau.  This award honors deserving individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Lake County Farm Bureau and agriculture, our community and is a great example of an individual, farm, or business that fulfills the Farm Bureau mission of advancing agriculture and strengthening our communities. 

Lake County Organization Director, Mandy Orahood recognized the Lake County Farm Bureau board of trustees, action team leaders and membership coordinators for their 2022 accomplishments and thanked them all for their commitment to the Lake County Farm Bureau.  Orahood shared the value of Farm Bureau and what membership means to the organization and the future of agriculture.

The annual meeting was also a celebration of the work our members, volunteers and staff put into representing our Mission Statement: “Working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.”

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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