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.

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
Suggested Tags: