2024 Winter Leadership Experience
2024 Winter Leadership Experience participants
Pictured L to R: Rachel Bohrer, Liz Piscopink-Meranda, and Adrianne Moran

This past weekend, a group of young agricultural professionals from various areas congregated in Columbu for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s Winter Leadership Conference. Among the attendees were Dalton Black, Adams County board trustee; Adrianne Moran, Brown County board trustee; Liz Piscopink Meranda, Brown County Farm Bureau member; Josh and Sarah Ison, Clermont County board trustees. Highland County board of trustees was well-represented with Andrew Davis, Rachel Bohrer, and Blake Adams in attendance.

Reflecting on the experience, Adrianne Moran said, “The 2024 Winter Leadership Experience pushed us all outside of our fence rows, fostering connections with new young ag professionals. We engaged in a variety of hands-on workshops and savored new culinary experiences. The friendships formed during these events are bound to last a lifetime.”

The Winter Leadership Conference provided a platform for young ag professionals to expand their networks, gain insights from industry leaders, and enhance their skill sets through engaging workshops. As these enthusiastic individuals have returned to their respective communities, they carry with them not only newfound knowledge, but also a shared commitment to the future of agriculture.

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.
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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
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
Finding farm labor
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.
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Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
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
CAUV: Past, present and future
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.
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David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Farm Bureau involvement
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.
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Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
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.
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Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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