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Leaders from the Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas County Farm Bureaus gathered at their county office in New Philadelphia July 10 to plan for the 2025 membership campaign. While membership efforts are in full swing for staff, this meeting’s purpose was to involve county leaders in the planning process as they prepare for the volunteer membership campaign efforts.

“Our goal was to come together as a four-county area and brainstorm on ideas that would be of great value to our members as we continue in the next campaign” Organization Director Trevor Kirkpatrick explained. “We are constantly looking for ways to add value to the Farm Bureau membership and improve existing programs and benefits. The group that came together for this meeting presented the start of some amazing plans that we will implement moving forward.”

County Office Administrator Jennifer Grigsby presented the different generations that make up the region’s membership and how we might share our message differently. Morgen Rutledge, also a county office administrator, discussed the 2025 membership marketing plan that included Facebook geofencing ads, mailers and more. Additional topics covered were training desired by volunteers, marketing ideas and methods, specifying membership campaign tasks specific to the volunteers’ strengths and of course – incentives.

“There was a sense of unity among this region all to grow the membership and make it the best it can be” Jennifer Grigsby said.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect being so new to the organization, but I felt the meeting was great! I felt the excitement from the group and really appreciated their genuine feedback that I can work with moving forward,” added Morgen Rutledge.

In her closing comments, District 13 State Trustee Mackenzie Deetz shared her gratitude for the group that came to the meeting.

“I greatly appreciate those of you who took almost a full day to come talk about membership. It shows me that you are passionate and dedicated to this organization and I am very grateful for that,” she said.

The attendees of this meeting were Nicki Gordon-Coy and Shelby Rhodes of Carroll County; Keith Eddy and Dave Hamric of Harrison County; John Grafton, Polly Givens and Jeanne Roberts of Jefferson County: and Jim Rowe of Tuscarawas County.

These individuals were tasked with the responsibility to report back to their boards about the next steps each individual county needs to take to grow the membership.