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Heather Coen of New Concord recently graduated from Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER Class XIV. The elite leadership program was started in 2008 to help agricultural advocates gain influence over public policy issues that impact their businesses and communities.

Coen is the assistant at McDonald’s Greenhouse and Corn Maze in Muskingum County. She grows cut flowers and pumpkins to sell at her roadside stand and local farmers markets and offers flower-arranging and wreath-making classes. Coen completed the Ohio State Master Gardener Program in 2006. She and her husband and their three sons currently raise a few animals.

Over the course of a year, Class XIV participants learned from experts on how to become better leaders and advocates for the agricultural industry, including spokesperson and media training, social networking and communications. They learned about public policy matters important to their local communities, as well as the state, nation and world. They visited Washington, D.C. where they learned about national and global issues, and they visited diverse agricultural operations in Washington state so they could better understand the differences and similarities in agriculture from state to state.

Partnering with Ohio Farm Bureau on AgriPOWER Class XIV are Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, Ohio Soybean Council, Farm Credit Mid-America, AgCredit, Legacy Farmers Cooperative, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association, Certified Angus Beef, Stark County Farm Bureau, PBS Animal Health and United Producers, Inc.

To learn more about AgriPOWER, visit ohiofarmbureau.org/agripower.

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ty Higgins, 614-246-8231 or thiggins@ofbf.org.

Editors: A high-resolution photo of Ms. Coen is available for download.