Madison County, Ohio

Blayne Ferguson

Editor’s Note: Blayne Ferguson will serve as the Central Ohio Farm Bureaus summer intern.

Hi everyone! My name is Blayne Ferguson and I am the new summer intern for Central Ohio Farm Bureau covering Delaware, Franklin, Madison, and Union counties. I graduated from Miami Trace High School in 2022 and just finished my first year at Wilmington College. I am majoring in agriculture with a concentration in communications. 

I grew up in Cedarville on my family’s farm and have always had a passion for agriculture. While in high school, I served as president of my 4-H club for three years, and held offices such as Growing Leaders, Treasurer, and Vice President of my FFA chapter. One trip sparked my interest in advocating while in high school: the Ohio Legislative Leadership Conference at the Ohio capital building. While attending with other members from my school, I learned about lobbying, agricultural education, and even had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers such as then Director of Agriculture Dorothy Pelanda. I will also be receiving my American Degree in the fall at the National FFA Convention which is the highest degree an FFA member can receive. Experiences like these have only encouraged me to continue to use my voice for positive change within the agriculture industry.

While in college I have become a member of various organizations including my fraternity, Delta Theta Sigma, Aggies Collegiate 4-H, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. I am very thankful for these opportunities provided to me by Wilmington College. 

Being heavily involved in 4-H and FFA through high school and college have provided me with many opportunities to advocate for this community. Coming from a family of farmers, I believe in advocating for this community, and giving a voice to farmers who feel as if they do not have one. Ohio Farm Bureau is known for being the voice of the agriculture community, so taking this internship will give me firsthand experience in doing so. I am excited to get involved and meet members from all across Ohio who share the same passion for agriculture as I do.

Farm Labor Resources
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
Strong communities
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
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
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
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
Groovy Plants Ranch
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
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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