AgriPOWER Class XIV Session 2
Dierdre Christy and Mary Wilhelm
I’m pictured with fellow classmate, Dierdre Christy.

Session 2 for AgriPOWER Class XIV was a great opportunity to network with other agricultural professionals while attending the OFBF annual meeting. We were able to attend the general session, a breakout session, and the luncheon of the annual meeting. I attended the OFB Ag Literacy session to learn more about the program. I found that the session was very informative and I learned a great deal about the program. The program helps bring agriculture into classrooms.

We started Session 2 with supper with the OFBF board of trustees. It was a great networking opportunity getting to know some of the trustees that represent the great state of Ohio and Ohio agriculture. We listened to Dr. Jeff King with Ohio State University Leadership Center after supper. Dr. King presented to us change style preferences and how we interact with each other based on our style. This training helped me to identify ways to be more aware of how I interact with others. Once aware of any differences, I can make adjustments to understand others on a deeper level to help accomplish our goals and effectively communicate.

On Thursday we enjoyed an industry panel with commodity group leaders. In attendance for the panel was Elizabeth Harsh with Ohio Beef Council & Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and Madi Layman with the Ohio Soybean Council. Both ladies told us that it is okay not to know everything all at once; we can keep adding to our toolbox as we continue to learn and grow. It is important to remain an active learner and to always be curious.

We also met with Nationwide Directors Jeff Zellers and Paul Wenger on Thursday afternoon. Jeff is the Chairman & President of K.W. Zellers & Son, Inc., a seasonal business of Arrow brand fresh salad vegetables. Paul Wenger is a third-generation almond and walnut farmer who owns and operates Wood Colony Nut Company. Both Jeff and Paul provided us stories that helped give us solid advice that we can use in our personal and professional lives. They told us that change is a good thing: learn from it and evolve yourself.

Melanie Wilt Shift-ology
Melanie Wilt Shift-ology

To finish off our session we met with Melanie Wilt with Shift•ology Communication. Melanie spoke on Authentic Voices, and it was my favorite session. She taught us to Be Confident, Be Proactive and most importantly Be Yourself. These skills can be utilized in agriculture by helping to identify where you fit into the industry, understanding the audience, and presenting individual truth. These steps will help the audience better understand your viewpoint and help you to articulate your thoughts clearly. Melanie taught us how to communicate effectively and use less words doing so. We try to tell our side of the story with too many words and that’s how we can lose our audience. By learning how to communicate more effectively, we become better advocates for the industry we love.

I look forward to the new challenges, networking and opportunities for growth we will be experiencing as the Farm Bureau AgriPOWER Class XIV.

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

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
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

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
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

Select Partner Program
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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