Mike Videkovich AgOne

Ohio State’s Leadership Center graduated its first co-hort of the AgOne program, a new, year-long program for agricultural industry board members which focused on self-leadership, team leadership and stewardship. Ohio Farm Bureau State Trustee Mike Videkovich was among the six co-hort members. The group members earned a Foundational Leadership Certificate, developed a leadership plan, strengthened their network and their understanding of board effectiveness throughout their time in the program.

The other inaugural co-hort members included:

  • Nathan Eckel with the Ohio Soybean Council
  • Rose Hartschuh with Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
  • Sandra Lausecker with the Ohio Poultry Association
  • John Linder with the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association
  • Chris Weaver with Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

“Individuals who serve on boards want to make a meaningful impact during their time of service,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership. “This program allows its members to transform the individual influence they can have on their industry through leadership and boardmanship.”

Throughout the year, members completed skill and behavior assessments, attended one-on-one coaching sessions to create a roadmap of learning and leadership, attended in-person and virtual workshops, participated in group discussions about case studies, videos and articles and expanded personal networks to surface new leadership and board opportunities.

“AgOne focuses on meeting each leader where they are in their leadership journey to provide them with a unique opportunity for growth,” said Maggie Good, program manager of AgOne with the OSU Leadership Center. “Members of the program learned about their personal leadership – their strengths and weaknesses, effective listening, conflict management and influencing and empowering others, and how to utilize their skills to lead in a board setting.”

The AgOne program is a joint collaboration between the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, and the OSU Leadership Center.

The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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
Suggested Tags: