Over three days, participants heard from experts and, in turn, voiced their thoughts on topics as far reaching as the farm bill to trade to taxes.
Ohio Farm Bureau’s farmer leaders plus members of the media and select Farm Bureau staff were at the nation’s capital March 11-13, 2025 for the annual County Presidents’ Trip to Washington, D.C.
Over three days, participants were briefed by American Farm Bureau on the issues that Ohio farmers are currently facing, like the need to pass a new five-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 had 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 included 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 13
The final day of the 2025 County Presidents’ Trip included breakfast with Zippy Duvall, president of American Farm Bureau. He acknowledged that with the warmer weather, many in the room were thinking about everything they could be doing back home in their farms, but the work they are doing in Washington this week is equally valuable.
“This is the most important thing you will do as a Farm Bureau member,” Duvall said. “We are at the White House, USDA and on the Hill almost every single day telling them about your stories and your policy and then when you come to town, you all bring the reality of what we put in front of them. You and your story are the most powerful tool we have and when you come in and say the same thing as me about trade, tariffs, labor or whatever the issue is and we are singing it from one songbook, it is a very powerful thing.”
This was the second County Presidents’ Trip for Licking County’s Leslie Bruce. She said she came to the nation’s capital this week with a lot on her mind when it comes to the issues that are happening right now that would have an immediate and direct impact on Ohio agriculture. By the end of the trip, there was more excitement than trepidation.
“It’s still scary, don’t get me wrong, but I feel more encouraged and supported by our lawmakers taking time and listening to us,” Bruce said. “The biggest takeaway from this trip for me was to let them do their job and let them sort through all of this because there are a lot of things being rapidly done right now. We just need to have some patience and continuously communicate and advocate for the things that are most important to agriculture.”
Over 80 county Farm Bureau leaders and Ohio Farm Bureau staff made the trip this year, representing members from across Ohio and advocating for priority issues set by Ohio Farm Bureau members through the organization’s grassroots process.
March 12
In addition to meeting with representatives on Capitol Hill during the 2025 County Presidents’ Trip, Ohio Farm Bureau members will also had some time with members of the Senate. Wednesday’s activities kicked off with Sen. Jon Husted and Sen. Bernie Moreno, who joined Ohio Farm Bureau members over breakfast. Sen. Husted talked about one of the first calls he received in his new Senate office, which pertained to the avian influenza outbreak impacting Ohio agriculture.
“We were very aggressive in trying to connect the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and farmers to try to sort things out and help out the best we could, and this administration is listening to industry needs,” Husted said. “That is what my office does. It’s not just voting on issues. It’s when you have problems or the state has an issue, I will try to be the best darn advocate I can be.”
Sen. Moreno addressed the concern with losing farmland to various causes, including energy development and ways to find other alternatives for development.
“If you want to put solar panels all over your farm or if you want to put solar panels on your backpack, on your house, on your car, you can go crazy on solar panels. I’m just not going to give you any money to do that,” Moreno said. “These solar projects on prime farmland only work because the government was giving insane amounts of subsidies. When those subsidies are taken away, those business models don’t work.”
Following breakfast, county presidents took their messages to congressional leaders, which included the clarity and certainty that can be gained with a new five-year farm bill, extending current estate tax laws and the importance of trade for farmers in Ohio and across the country.
The afternoon included a visit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where Ohio Farm Bureau members heard from USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer and heard about the history and importance of agricultural trade. Additionally, members learned about recent trends the industry is witnessing with trading partners around the world, from Jason Hafemeister, USDA acting deputy secretary, trade and foreign affairs.
For the third and final day of the trip, Ohio Farm Bureau leaders will hear from American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and pay a visit to the Spanish and Mexican embassies before heading home.
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.
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