Trustee Tuesday Sara Tallmadge
Sara Tallmadge
Tallmadge

We would like to take the time on Tuesdays to introduce you to our Ashland County Farm Bureau trustees. Though they are busy with their careers, agricultural operations, and families, they still manage to find time to put in some fantastic work for Farm Bureau and we appreciate all that they continue to do for our county and Ohio agriculture.

This week we would like to introduce you to Sara Tallmadge. 

Where did you grow up?

  • Southern coastal region of North Carolina, Maryland/District of Columbia, and Ashland County, Ohio

How long have you been a Farm Bureau member?

  • Nearly 6 years

How long have you been a county trustee?

  • 5 years

What is your agriculture background?

  • My dad served in the United States Marine Corps for 21 years, but even though we resided between NC and MD, when leave would come around, we would make our way up to Jeromesville to work on the family pheasant farm. When dad retired and we moved to Ohio full-time, I got involved in 4-H and later FFA where I raised livestock, was a 4-H Camp counselor, served on Jr. Fair Board and as an FFA officer, and participated in the Meats Evaluation and Parliamentary Procedure CDEs.

What is your current job title?

  • Laboratory animal technologist

Ashland County Farm Bureau has a variety of subcommittees. Which subcommittees do you currently serve on?

  • Annual Ag Toy Drive Committee and Policy Development

What are a few of the activities have you participated in with Farm Bureau?

  • I have attended the Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience, served as a Ohio Farm Bureau annual meeting delegate, participated in Ag Day at the Capital, graduated from AgriPOWER Class X, attended Cultivating a Cure, and recently attended the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Puerto Rico. I also currently serve on the Ohio Farm Bureau State YAP Committee as secretary, and I am looking forward to attending my first YF&R FUSION Conference in March.

What is one interesting fact about yourself?

  • I LOVE to volunteer – tie-blankets at WLE, Ag Toy Drive, assisting in natural disaster clean-up, you name it and I’m there.

Aside from Farm Bureau, are there other agricultural-related organizations you are involved in?

  • Ohio Rural Health Association, an association working to enhance the health and well-being of the Ohio’s rural citizens and communities, and Ohio’s Rural America Relief, a nonprofit relief group made up of volunteers who travel to rebuild rural communities after disaster strikes.

What is something you are looking forward to in 2023-2024?

  • I am really looking forward to beginning the planning process in March for the 2024 YAP Winter Leadership Experience. As a State YAP Committee member, we are tasked with guiding programming for Farm Bureau members ages 18-35 from all across Ohio, and the largest event we host is the annual WLE. For 2023 we hosted our first family friendly conference and had such great feedback from attendees on speakers, childcare solutions, networking, entertainment and tours. I am very excited to work with my fellow committee members to come up with some great programming for WLE 2024 which will be held in Columbus.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Ag Professionals programming provides community, leadership development, and professional growth opportunities for Farm Bureau members who are ages 18-35 years old. Learn more 

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
Suggested Tags: