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Twenty leaders have been named to the 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Policy Development Committee. The committee collects and organizes public policy recommendations from county Farm Bureaus and presents the final policy suggestions to be voted on by Ohio Farm Bureau delegates during the state annual meeting in December.
In its initial session, the committee heard from subject matter experts and Farm Bureau staff on topics such as property taxes, the agricultural workforce, the Make America Healthy Again movement, ATV/UTV safety and electricity availability.
The policy committee consists of 10 members from Ohio Farm Bureau’s board of trustees and 10 representatives of county Farm Bureaus.
The committee is chaired by Ohio Farm Bureau First Vice President Cy Prettyman of New Bloomington and includes OFBF President Bill Patterson of Chesterland and OFBF Treasurer Adele Flynn of Wellington. Other state trustees on the committee are Steve Berk of Brookville, Hannah DiVencenzo of Grafton, Rose Hartschuh of Sycamore, Nate Like of Hamler, Lane Osswald of Eldorado, Vince Untied of Frazeysburg and Matt Vodraska of Doylestown.
County Farm Bureau representatives are Robert Beekman of Lorain County, Amanda Barndt of Wood County, Robyn Callicoat of Clark County, Matthew Hartong of Summit County, Lawrence Onweller of Fulton County, Lynne Schultz of Fairfield County, Mick Scott of Jackson/Vinton County, Larry Seibel of Preble County, Melissa Tuttle of Clark County, and Bradley Weaver of Wyandot County.
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 high-resolution photo of the 2025 policy development committee is available for download.
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.
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.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through 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.
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.
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.
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.
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