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Did you know that behind every successful Ohio Farm Bureau Winter Leadership Conference is a committee composed of young industry professionals who work diligently to plan and execute educational programs and sessions for conference goers? The state YAP committee is gearing up for the 2026 Winter Leadership Experience at Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Jan. 23-24.
This eight-position committee is made up of individuals or married couples who hold a two-year term, with four positions returning and four new positions appointed each year.
Meet the new State Young Ag Professionals Committee members:
Amanda Barndt, Wood County
Barndt is a full-time turf and construction equipment salesperson for Truland Equipment, with a focus on government contracts. She will soon term off the Wood County Farm Bureau board where she has served in various capacities but most recently as the president. Barndt raises show lambs and cattle with her parents, selling to local families. One of her big community projects is hosting the Ring of Dreams Livestock Show, giving kids with disabilities the opportunity to show livestock alongside a Jr. Fair exhibitor. Barndt is an AgriPOWER Class XV graduate.
Olivia Lang, Wayne County
Lang is a second-generation row crop farmer and an ag risk advisor for Hummel Group, assisting farmers in protecting their assets through risk management. Lang operates a pick-your-own strawberry patch and plans to expand into the beef industry in the future. She is currently the Wayne County Farm Bureau president and is an AgriPOWER Class XV graduate.
Kenton Richter, Ross County
Richter works full-time for Corcoran Farms where they raise row crops and operate a Certified Angus Beef feedlot providing custom beef through their own cow-calves. Off the farm, Richter owns and operates Buckeye Aerial Application, a spray drone business alongside the Corcorans. Richter was a member of The Ohio State University Collegiate Farm Bureau and currently serves on the Ross County Farm Bureau board.
Haylee VanScoy, Hardin County
VanScoy is a co-owner of Copper Windmill Farms where she and her family produce premium forage and pasture-raised Holstein beef for direct-to-consumers markets. Off the farm, she is the director of grain purchasing and risk management at Heritage Cooperative. VanScoy currently serves on the Hardin County Farm Bureau board and chaired the 2022-2023 Women’s Agri-Intelligence Conference Committee.
Winter Leadership Experience
These committee members have unique agricultural backgrounds, wide ranging expertise and industry knowledge and will bring fresh ideas and perspectives that will benefit Ohio Farm Bureau members attending the Winter Leadership Experience. Registration for the 2026 Winter Leadership is now open. A discounted early-bird registration is available through Dec. 17, and registration officially closes Jan. 6.
If you are interested in serving on the state YAP committee, be on the lookout for application information in the spring of 2026.
Upcoming Deadlines/Events
- American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference (Portland Oregon, March 13-16, 2026) Scholarship applications due Dec. 1.
- YAP Excellence in Agriculture Contest applications due Dec. 1.
- YAP Outstanding Young Farmer Contest applications due Dec. 1.
- 2026 Winter Leadership Experience early bird registration ends Dec. 17; registration closes Jan. 6.
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.
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