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A confluence has emerged in the last several years to help secure the future of agriculture in the Buckeye State.

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has sharpened its focus on delivering clearly seen value to members by identifying four key areas of impact, including creating opportunities for growth.
Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation is at the core of creating opportunities for growth. Its initiatives all serve to fuel that important area of membership value – sustaining and growing the agriculture industry.

“The foundation plays a central role in this by supporting career development for current members and helping young people find their path, building the future of our membership,” said Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Executive Director Kelly Burns. “We’re driving growth across all stages of the journey.”

Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp constantly travels the state to listen to members about the challenges facing agriculture. Emboldening the future of the industry has been top of mind on those visits.

“Many of you have told us that what you care about most is making sure the next generation is educated, prepared and excited to be part of our agricultural future,” he said. “You’ve asked for stronger ag literacy, more leadership opportunities and better ways to connect young people to lifelong careers in agriculture. We heard you, and we’ve evolved to meet that need.”

The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation supports opportunities for growth by:

• Building ag literacy programs that reach hundreds of students and educators each year.
• Offering scholarships and leadership training to high school and college students with a passion for agriculture.
• Creating career exploration and development programs that help young people map a path into ag-related professions.
• Investing in professional development that supports our members at every stage of
  their careers.

“The alignment between the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the foundation has never been stronger,” said Nathan Brown, former Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation president and former Ohio Farm Bureau Federation state trustee. Together, we’re creating a seamless path from classroom to career, ensuring every investment we make directly supports our members and programs that shape the future of Ohio agriculture.”

Sharp agreed and noted that “opportunities for growth” were palpable.

“When we talk about ‘opportunities for growth,’ we’re talking about real people, young leaders discovering their purpose, early-career professionals growing into community advocates, and members building lifelong skills that strengthen our industry,” he said.

KEY POINTS

• Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation have aligned to help secure the future of agriculture.
• OFBF’s focus is on delivering clear member value through four key impact areas, one of which is creating opportunities for growth, driven by the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation.
• Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation supports career development for current members and helps young people find their path in agriculture.

WHAT’S NEXT

Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation and county Farm Bureau scholarship applications open Jan. 1, 2026. Visit ofbf.org/foundation/scholarships to apply.

To support the efforts of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, visit ofbf.org/foundation.

The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Board of Directors appointed three new members and reappointed one member at its board meeting in November.

• Chuck Renken, Versova Management Cooperative, is responsible for the strategic direction and tactical execution of all People Operations department functions, including benefits, compensation, talent development and more.
• Liliana Esposito, The Wendy’s Company, has served as the Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer since February 2021. She joined Wendy’s in 2014.
• Greg Wells of Chillicothe, OFBF Southeast Regional Trustee, was elected to his first, three-year term on the board of trustees of Ohio Farm Bureau Federation in December 2023.