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Union County Farm Bureau member Mark Seger finds himself in a unique position when it comes to the future of infrastructure in his part of the state: Not only is he a farmer; he is a project manager for Ohio Department of Transportation District 6. As industrial and residential development spreads, the need for upgraded road systems that include the construction of bridges, guardrails and roundabouts will increase.

To be sure his colleagues get a full understanding of what needs to be considered when projects are being planned out, Seger invited them to his farm for some hands-on demonstrations. ODOT engineers, designers and managers took part in a combine ride down the state route Seger lives on and travels frequently in the oversized machine. They also were invited to drive a tractor and attached implement around a course of cones set up on the farm to get a feel of the size and scope of farm equipment.

“When I first started at ODOT two years ago, we started talking about roundabouts and they asked me about farm equipment with their designs,” Seger said. “I explained to them that their templates weren’t wide enough for combines or tractors pulling field cultivators and rolling baskets. I talked with them about graded berms, light poles and other things they might not have been thinking about.”

After over a dozen co-workers took part in the day’s activities, Seger said they had an even better understanding of the challenges farmers are seeing when it comes to the designs of new projects throughout the state. 

In turn, Seger and his farm neighbors heard about some of the challenges that ODOT faces concerning budgets and limits on “right of way” space when planning out projects.

As the event wrapped up, ODOT representatives expressed an interest in having Ohio Farm Bureau at the table when future projects are considered.

“Farm Bureau has been a big supporter on this issue in this area and that’s why the deputy director of ODOT wanted the organization to be a part of this event,” Seger said. “It was a great idea to have both parties involved to move this conversation forward.”

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When ODOT initially unveiled its US Route 23 proposals, the Skinner family saw red flags all over the place and the need to take action.

From Ohio Farm Bureau on YouTube

For Plain City, Ohio farmer Fred Yoder, new houses are popping up around him just about as quickly as the crops once did in former corn and soybeans fields. As the landscape drastically changes due to urban sprawl, something else is hampering the work of Yoder and neighboring farmers…roundabouts.