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At its November board meeting, the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation elected Nathan Brown as its 2025 president and welcomed new board members to the organization.

Bob Evans CEO Mike McCoy, Inspire PR Group President Hinda Mitchell, AgCredit Account Manager and farmer Derek Snider and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation District 8 State Trustee Matt Vodraska of Rittman Orchards in Wayne County are new to the foundation board in 2025.

Brown serves as District 20 trustee for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. He is a first-generation farmer in Hillsboro where he and his wife, Jennifer, grow corn and soybeans and operate a cow-calf herd. Brown has served as Highland County Farm Bureau president, as well as a past chairman of the Ohio Farm Bureau Young Ag Professionals State Committee.

His passion for highlighting farmer mental health needs has been significant as he has embarked on leadership positions within Farm Bureau and the farm community. Brown is excited about the future ag leaders the foundation is committed to supporting in all aspects of the industry.

Q: What is your vision for the foundation in your year as president?
A: In 2025, the foundation will continue providing youth pathways opportunities to young people to explore and embrace the variety of careers there are within our industry.
Our scholarship program is open now for graduating high school seniors and college students to apply. The foundation even has scholarships for those who are pursuing certifications or training outside of higher education. The ExploreAg program will launch in April, providing students with free summer camp experiences to explore careers in agriculture.

There is so much opportunity for our foundation to impact the next generation of leaders and skilled workforce. I look forward to meeting some of the youth that we have and will impact through our support.

Q: What foundation accomplishment from the past year is a standout for you and why?
A: The foundation has provided so many great programs and opportunities for young people wanting to explore what agriculture could offer them, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. I think that the impact on the lives of young people like Ryanna Tietje and Jayden Porter is the true measure of accomplishment for the foundation.

To see the impact the scholarships played in Ryanna’s collegiate journey and how it inspired her to not only want to give back her time by serving on our scholarship committee but also give back by making her first donation to the foundation is truly incredible to me. Jayden Porter is a true testament to the youth pathways map that the foundation has put together. As a youth from Columbus who knew nothing of agriculture, to finding the ExploreAg program online and now serving in many capacities with Collegiate Farm Bureau and the Ohio State Junior Fair Board, I am truly excited to see him and many others like him continue into the future.

Q: What initiatives are you most excited about in 2025?
A: If I were to pick one, as a first-generation farmer, I would have to say that the Growing Tomorrow Grant is one that has caught my attention. I am excited to see how we can continue these efforts to help the next generation of agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs find creative and transformative ways to address challenges facing the agricultural sector today, and to generate wider and deeper public understanding of farming. This program helps complete the full circle of ag exposure, education, ag literacy, leadership development, community support and finally entrepreneurial support to help those who wish to start their own businesses.

Q: How important is the support of the foundation to the overall mission of Ohio Farm Bureau?
A: The foundation is playing a critical role in supporting the mission of Ohio Farm Bureau. When you get to work with such a talented board who are passionate about the work they are a part of, it is truly inspiring. Then to see the impacts to our youth, the leadership development opportunities provided and the community development opportunities is amazing. Then to meet and talk to the people that are being impacted by the efforts of the foundation makes every program so important.

Because of the support that the foundation receives from the agricultural community, it is helping the next generation advance agriculture and strengthen communities with programs like ExploreAg and our Ag Literacy Certification Training that wouldn’t exist otherwise. As a long-standing board member and now president, I am proud of the impact our foundation is having on our federation.