Ohio Farm Bureau provides opportunities, platforms and resources to give farmers a seat at the table with leaders and legislators and help members develop a voice in the industry.
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You may know that Ohio Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization, meaning the policy and advocacy begins with our county members and then is constructed at the state and national levels, but have you ever wondered why that process is important to Ohio agriculture?
Policy doesn’t always have to be created in a meeting room. It sometimes is created in the cab of a tractor, while doing chores on the farm, while sitting in line at the grain elevator, or around the family dinner table. Policy often begins at the root of the problem, where the heart of the issue takes place when someone has a passion to make things better for the next generation. That is when the idea is taken to the county Farm Bureau to begin potential execution of making the change. This concept is important because Ohio Farm Bureau members truly have a respected voice in the policies that govern their farms and operations and have the opportunity to make a difference in the things that matter the most to them.
A new member initiative in 2024, Advocacy in Action, is a self-guided program that allows members a variety of opportunities to explore what type of policy leadership role they can create for themselves, with help from monthly planning worksheets.
The Monthly Advocacy Planner and Challenges are a series of worksheets to help members intentionally plan and track their advocacy work throughout their network. Through the work of Farm Bureau’s grassroots network, members create policy that guides the work of the organization. That work is steered by a collection of priority issues every year, identifying potential issues Farm Bureau can work on to advance agriculture. Being able to share personalized stories and feedback in the cross-section of priority issues and potential legislation is the benefit members bring to the discourse, which often makes the difference in the success of that legislation.
Members have access to guides, a new one released every month, to help create op-eds, host farm tours, plan a roundtable discussion, lead an issue campaign, and more! All guides are step-by-step breakdowns of the steps you can take to implement advocacy work into your routine, and create relationships to help further ag policy for Ohio. The guides are like an à-la-carte selection of how you want to be an advocate, versus a series of must-do items–you can create your own path!
An Advocacy in Action Award also has been established this year to recognize accomplishments within the program. The goal is to honor those who have forged their path to advocacy, and put their unique plan into motion.
Visit farmvotesmatter.org for more information, or listen to a podcast on Advocacy in Action.
Miranda Miser, Young Ag Professionals member and president of Guernsey County Farm Bureau, shares her experience with advocacy as a part of Farm Bureau.
Describe your involvement in Ohio Farm Bureau
I have been president of Guernsey County Farm Bureau for the past three years. In this role, I have served as a delegate to the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and served on the state code committee. I have also advocated for Ohio agriculture in DC and Columbus as part of Farm Bureau’s legislative visits. In addition, I have competed in the Young Agricultural Professionals Discussion Meet and attended the YAP Winter Leadership Experience for many years.
What events do you feel are the most valuable that Ohio Farm Bureau offers for advocacy for YAP members?
Ohio Farm Bureau gives us many opportunities to talk and connect with our elected officials. I have attended Ag Day at the Capital and the Washington, D.C. trip many times. What makes these experiences unique is the equality Ohio Farm Bureau gives Young Ag Professionals at these events. They give us the encouragement and tools to tackle issues we are passionate about and take the time to brief us on issues. Our voices are the future of agriculture, and Ohio Farm Bureau never fails to treat us with respect.
As a YAP member, why do you feel it’s important to get involved in grassroots policy?
Grassroots advocacy gives a voice to our farmers. Agriculture is the largest industry in Ohio, but elected officials come from different backgrounds and experiences; not all of which are related to the agricultural industry. It allows us to bridge the gap between elected officials and the needs of our producers. Ohio Farm Bureau does an excellent job encouraging farmers to tell their story and their experiences to educate those who represent us at the federal and state level.
We need diversity of experience at the table making decisions about the future of agriculture. The number of farms in Ohio has continued to decrease year after year. As young ag professionals, we have to adapt to the changing technology, higher prices for land, and increased input costs in order to preserve the farming legacy. Elected officials need to hear and understand these struggles so they know how their actions affect the future of agriculture.
Ohio Farm Bureau provides opportunities, platforms and resources to give farmers a seat at the table with leaders and legislators and help members develop a voice in the industry. Grassroots advocacy is important because it begins with you, and at the end of the day there is no one that can share your story better than you.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved in Ohio Farm Bureau policy or the Advocacy in Action award, contact Ohio Farm Bureau Director of State Policy & Grassroots Engagement Whittney Bowers, [email protected].
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