The Lahmers given Y Prize for mental health outreach
Dr. Jerry and Rita Lahmers of Newcomerstown are winners of the 2023 Yvonne Lesicko Perseverance Prize for their innovative work on farmer mental health initiatives.
Read MoreCox explains how the foundation carrying out its mission subsequently impacts the future of agriculture.
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:
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.
Dr. Jerry and Rita Lahmers of Newcomerstown are winners of the 2023 Yvonne Lesicko Perseverance Prize for their innovative work on farmer mental health initiatives.
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Read MoreOhio Farm Bureau Foundation board member Roger Nicol speaks about ‘paying it forward’ through the work of the foundation.
Read MoreAll proceeds support programming and events that will expand and grow agriculture’s footprint in the county and encourage youth development in agriculture.
Read MoreThe Youth Pathways Grant for Careers in Agriculture is accepting applications through Oct. 31, 2023.
Read MoreA total of four grants were awarded to county Farm Bureaus in the amount of $5,000 each.
Read MoreThe 2023 Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Golf Invitational raised over $100,000 for foundation work that helps enhance agricultural communities and support careers in agriculture.
Read MoreScholarship awards directly impact that purpose of the foundation: to inspire and educate the next generation of agriculture.
Read MoreThe Yvonne Lesicko Perseverance Prize recognizes groups or individuals working to find innovative solutions to farmer mental health difficulties. Nominations are due July 31, 2023.
Read MoreChrissy Tarrant of Westerville has been named gift accounting specialist for the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation.
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