Jenny Cox, Southeast region trustee

Jenny Cox of Dresden is president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors in 2023. She also currently serves as southeast regional trustee for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and is a long-time board member of both boards.

Cox is the communications director at Bickle Farm Solutions, and she and her husband, Jared, own Cox Seed Sales. They also own and operate a family farm, where they raise corn, soybeans and wheat in Muskingum and Coshocton counties.

Our Ohio caught up with Cox to ask how the foundation carrying out its mission subsequently impacts agriculture.

Q: What are the pillars that make up the essence of the foundation, and why is each one critical to the mission of supporting future ag careers?

The foundation has a three-pronged approach to inspiring interest in and commitment to agriculture – innovative programming, such as our signature science program, ExploreAg, for high school students, as well as numerous scholarships for students entering into agriculture or related fields, and grants to nonprofit organizations, county Farm Bureaus and programs advancing agricultural education.

Participation in any of these aspects of the foundation serves as great exposure to agriculture but also serves as a gateway into Ohio Farm Bureau as a whole. One in eight jobs in Ohio are related to food and agriculture. As the demands for employees to fill these roles increase, we want to do our part to cultivate the next generation of workers to grow their careers in agriculture.

Q: How do you track success?

The simple answer would be to track quantitative metrics such as dollars raised by the foundation, participants at our annual golf outing, increased sponsorships, or attendance at our ExploreAg camps. However, the most rewarding measures of success are the stories of the lives that have been impacted by the foundation. For example:

  • Haven Hileman of Scioto County has received multiple foundation scholarships and recently participated in the 2022 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting as a delegate. Haven is currently attending The Ohio State University, where she is studying animal sciences.
  • Jayden Porter of Franklin County participated in an ExploreAg camp on a whim because he was interested in being a food scientist. At the close of camp, during the networking portion of the camp ceremony, he met Dan Durheim, AVP of Sponsor Relations at Nationwide. Jayden and Dan exchanged information and through this interaction, Jayden became an ambassador at the Land and Living Building at the Ohio State Fair and is currently applying to be on the Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board. Jayden will be graduating from high school in May and has plans to attend The Ohio State University to major in food science.

Q: What does the next chapter in the development of the foundation look like?
It is such an exciting time to be a part of the foundation board. First and foremost, the opportunity to work with and get to know some of these young students – whether it is through networking at an ExploreAg camp or reading about all of their accomplishments and activities through reviewing scholarship applications – is incredibly rewarding. The stories and successes of these young people confirm to me that the future of agriculture is bright.

However, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the opportunity to work alongside this amazing board. The foundation board is made up of 16 members who are all connected to agriculture and youth development but in very different ways. At every single meeting, committee event, foundation program, or chance encounter – I learn something new from every single foundation board member. Of course none of this would happen without our amazing donors who make the work of the foundation possible through their annual contributions.

New and beginning farmers
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Greg McGlinch's avatar
Greg McGlinch

Darke County Farm Bureau

Growing Tomorrow Grant
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
Nathan and Jill Parriman's avatar
Nathan and Jill Parriman

Clermont County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
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

Youth pathways in Farm Bureau
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
Wyatt Morrow's avatar
Wyatt Morrow

Clinton County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
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

Select Partner Program
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

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

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