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Ohio Farm Bureau’s farmer leaders plus members of the media and select Farm Bureau staff are at the nation’s capital March 11-13, 2025 for the annual County Presidents’ Trip to Washington, D.C.

Over three days, participants will be briefed by American Farm Bureau on the issues that Ohio farmers are currently facing, like the need to pass a new 5-year farm bill, the importance of trade and the impacts possible tariffs would have on Ohio agriculture and the ramifications of current tax laws sunsetting at the end of 2025.

Then, Ohio Farm Bureau members will have the opportunity to share those concerns with lawmakers and help them connect the dots between what needs to happen on the federal policy front in order to preserve the future of Ohio agriculture.

The agenda includes policy briefings with staff from American Farm Bureau; a Farm Forum hosted by Rep. Troy Balderson; congressional meetings; visits to USDA, the Spanish Embassy and the Mexican Embassy; and breakfast meetings with speakers Sen. Jon Husted, Sen. Bernie Moreno and AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

March 11

The 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau County Presidents’ trip kicked off Tuesday in Washington, D.C. The jam-packed day included a policy briefing from American Farm Bureau experts, as well as a rundown of issues directly important for Ohio agriculture. They discussed the importance of the farm bill and the need to get long-term legislation completed as soon as possible.

“The government is coming at us fast and it’s hard to get a foothold on all of the changes happening at the federal level from day to day,” said Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson. “That is the beauty of what this trip is all about as we help our lawmakers understand how the decisions they make matter and share with them exactly where we stand for the issues that directly impact our way of life.”

The day also included participants making their way to Capitol Hill for the Congressional Farm Forum. This annual event is hosted by Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12th), who invites other lawmakers from Ohio and across the country to visit with Ohio Farm Bureau members about where issues that concern agriculture currently are in the legislative process. Guests included Ohio representatives Rep. David Taylor (OH-2nd), Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-8th), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11) and House Ag Committee Chairman GT Thompson (PA-15th), who all spoke with Ohio Farm Bureau leaders before heading to the floor to vote on the Continuing Resolution government funding bill.

“To be able to get this kind of access to our legislators and put a personality with a name has been an amazing experience,” said Hardin County Farm Bureau Vice President Dillon Rall, who is taking part in his first advocacy trip to the nation’s capital. “It is also a unique opportunity for them to get to know us better as well and hear from farmers, firsthand, about our concerns from a policy standpoint.”

Tomorrow morning, Ohio Farm Bureau will host Sen. Jon Husted and Sen. Bernie Moreno for breakfast at the Capitol Club.