2025 educator tour Ohio State Fair

This month, Ohio Farm Bureau hosted 24 K-2nd grade educators for a professional development event, Food Roots: Where your Lunch Begins, while at the 2025 Ohio State Fair. 

This free, one-day professional development event hosted by Ohio Farm Bureau was open to any formal educator who instructs kindergarten, first grade or second grade in Ohio. The event included in-depth visits with farmers and commodity groups in each of the livestock barns, hands-on curriculum training, and a stop at Ohio Farm Bureau’s Little Farmer exhibit. All of the educators who attended Food Roots also received two standards-aligned hands-on lesson kits that include National Ag in the Classroom content and agriculturally accurate books. 

“As new generations are becoming farther removed from the farm, the gap between agriculture and consumers becomes wider,” said Mary Klopfenstein, Young Agricultural Professionals and Ag Literacy program specialist for Ohio Farm Bureau. “Our hope is that through providing professional development events like this to Ohio educators, along with hands-on curriculum, we can show students, and their educators, how essential agriculture is to our everyday lives.”

Many of the 2025 participants gave the program a five-star rating with 100% of them saying they would recommend the opportunity to fellow K-2nd educators. It was also noted in the post-survey that nearly half of the teachers who participated teach primarily in urban and suburban areas. 

More information on Ohio Farm Bureau’s events and agricultural education efforts can be found at the organization’s Agriculture Education page.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities. Learn more at ohiofarmbureau.org.

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ty Higgins, 614-246-8231 or [email protected].

Editors: A photo from the 2025 Food Roots tour is available for download.

New and beginning farmers
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Greg McGlinch's avatar
Greg McGlinch

Darke County Farm Bureau

Growing Tomorrow Grant
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
Nathan and Jill Parriman's avatar
Nathan and Jill Parriman

Clermont County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Youth pathways in Farm Bureau
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
Wyatt Morrow's avatar
Wyatt Morrow

Clinton County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Select Partner Program
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Advocacy
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

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