2023 Presidents Trip to DC

Ohio Farm Bureau’s farmer leaders and select Farm Bureau staff were in the nation’s capital on March. 7-9, 2023 for the annual County President’s Trip to Washington, D.C. Jennifer Bullock of Warren County and Ryan Hiser of Fayette County attended on behalf of their county Farm Bureaus. They are pictured with State Farm Bureau Trustee Steve Berk.

Over three days, they heard from experts and, in turn, voiced their thoughts on topics as far-reaching as the farm bill to trade to infrastructure. This is an opportunity for members to help legislators make the connection between what is happening on Ohio farms and what is being debated in the halls of Congress and within federal agencies.

The 2023 Ohio Farm Bureau County Presidents Trip kicked off Tuesday, March 7, in Washington, D.C. The jam-packed day included a trip to Capitol Hill to hear from congressional staff representing the highest ranking members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees. They discussed the now $1.5 trillion farm bill legislation in the works and the common goal to get it completed by the end of the year. 

One of the many highlights of the 2023 County Presidents Trip is getting to hear from both U.S. senators. Wednesday began with remarks from Sen. Sherrod Brown, who joined Ohio Farm Bureau members over breakfast. Senator Brown talked about the farm bill and agriculture’s role in rural Ohio and the state’s economy.

The final day of the 2023 County Presidents Trip began with breakfast with Sen. J.D. Vance. Vance acknowledged how Ohio Farm Bureau members take pride in the values that they have for families, a strong economy and what they do for a living. Vance took a number of questions from county Farm Bureau leaders and shared his thoughts on the upcoming farm bill, farmland preservation and water quality in the Great Lakes region.

A total of 80 country Farm Bureau leaders and Ohio Farm Bureau staff made the trip this year, representing members from across Ohio, advocating for issues important to agriculture and rural Ohio as a whole.

Available scholarships
I'm eternally grateful for the support Ohio Farm Bureau scholarships provided in helping me turn my dreams into reality.
Bethany Starlin's avatar
Bethany Starlin

Hocking County Farm Bureau

Available scholarships
Leadership development
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
Growing our Generation
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
Business Solutions
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

Business Solutions
Young Ag Professionals program
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
Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
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
Advocacy
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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