Bo and Katherine Harstine

Bo and Katherine Harstine were looking for the best of both worlds.

The Franklin County Farm Bureau members both grew up around different aspects of agriculture. Bo grew up on a dairy farm outside of Sugarcreek, Ohio. Katherine grew up riding and caring for horses in Athens. He is currently director of research for Select Sires Inc. in Plain City, and she is a buyer for Rod’s Western Palace in Columbus.

The young couple first met while Bo was finishing his studies at Ohio State University and soon bought their first home together in Columbus. Their homeowners insurance was a Nationwide policy through the Leavitt Group Midwest, and it came in handy when they needed it.

“We relied on them pretty heavily,” Bo said. “There was roof damage and a water main break. We had priced everyone out and (Nationwide) had the best coverage for the best price. They made first-time home ownership, and the unexpected emergencies that came with it, manageable for us and were a great help while navigating the claims process and repairs.”

After time spent in the city, the Harstines were ready to find their “best of both worlds” place in the country.

“We wanted to have animals, but be close to everything,” Bo said. “We were looking for that sweet spot.”

Two years ago, the search for a place that would be near the city yet have enough land for livestock came to its rightful conclusion when the Harstines found a home in Brown Township, still in Franklin County. It is close to all the amenities of city and suburban life – Hilliard schools and Old Hillard – yet country enough for the Harstines to be directly surrounded by farmers and farmland.

“The stars aligned and we bought this place in 2020,” said Katherine, who noted that having an indoor riding arena for her horse Molly was an unexpected bonus of their new property. They plan to put down roots for a long time.

It was again the Leavitt Agency Midwest and Nationwide that helped them navigate the transition.

“When we upsized to a home with facilities for livestock, we were relieved when Nationwide again provided the best coverage options amongst the several companies we compared,” Bo said. “We have home, property, and auto policies with them now, and they definitely made sure we applied our Farm Bureau member discount.”

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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