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The 2023 Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience was held Jan. 27 and 28 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. Young Ag Professionals from Ashtabula, Geauga, and Trumbull counties attended the 2023 Winter Leadership Experience. 

This annual event is an opportunity to enhance your leadership experience while building personal and professional skills. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with agricultural leaders, and those making a difference in our communities, Farm Bureau, and agriculture. 

“Attending this year’s YAP Winter Leadership Conference at Kalahari offered a new experience. I have attended for the past five years and this year offered the most diverse learning sessions and a group of attendees that I can remember,” shared Geauga County Young Ag Professional Meghan O’Reilly.  “I attended learning sessions relevant to my career goals in the near future. I had the opportunity to learn about the Young Farmers Tax Credit that Farm Bureau had a large part in making happen. This, along with a succession planning session, gave me direction on how to move forward with taking a larger role in the family farm. I would say that each year that I have attended this conference I have gained knowledge that has motivated me to keep pursuing my passion for Ohio agriculture in any way I can.”

During this time attendees were able to network with others around the state of Ohio as well as attend a variety of sessions that included business and production agriculture, niche marketing, and career/leadership development topics.

Rachel Kalas, an Ashtabula member experienced her first Winter Leadership Experience.  “My favorite part of the conference was the breakout sessions. There were numerous sessions to pick from based on your interests. I was surprised at how family-oriented this event was, with many attendees having their children with them. Not only were children invited to attend, but grandparents and other family members were also allowed to attend as caregivers for the kids.

“During the breakout sessions, there was a special educational program, called Safari Camp,  offered for all school-age children. During Safari Camp my son learned about different commodities raised in Ohio; his two favorite topics were turkeys and apples. I was impressed with this event and the dedication shown by the YAP committee in hosting such a great conference,” Kalas said.

Keynote speakers were a huge hit with the crowd and included James Lawrence, the “Iron Cowboy” who shared the ups, the downs, and life lessons he learned after breaking several Guinness World Records. Additionally, a Fireside Chat led by four young entrepreneurs shared how they built their personal brands and businesses to leave a lasting legacy. The expert presenters include Dr. Sarah Ison, Dr. Marissa Hake, Kristin Patterson, and Rebecca Dalton. 

Kristen Sirna of Geauga County said, “Hearing others discuss the way they did things, what worked and didn’t, make it easier for me to understand where I need to start. Marking your product up to the correct percentage, what systems and programs work best for small scale, and having simple platforms for your customers to use. These were all things I’ve been trying to learn and do but haven’t.” Kristen hopes to attend more conferences to continue improving herself and her family’s farm and business.

O’Reilly encourages anyone looking to expand their involvement in agriculture or Ohio Farm Bureau to attend the conference. “There were many opportunities to meet new people and develop professional connections during the evening socials.”

Young Active Members ages 18-24 enjoy all the benefits that our active members do, including having a voice in Farm Bureau’s ongoing advocacy and policy efforts. Farmers, agriculture students, or those whose work is directly impacted by the health of Ohio agriculture are invited to become a young active member. Learn more here!