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Kolesen McCoy of Columbus is one of 15 farmers and agribusiness professionals selected to participate in Ohio Farm Bureau’s 2025-2026 AgriPOWER Institute.

AgriPOWER is designed for farmers and agribusiness professionals. The program focuses on issues that are relevant to the farm and food industry such as consumer relations, regulations, energy, and trade policies. In AgriPOWER, individuals develop the skills necessary to become effective leaders and advocates for agriculture by learning from experts in these fields.

McCoy serves as a government affairs senior analyst for The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, focusing on federal affairs. His work centers on advocacy, policy engagement and supporting the land-grant mission through effective communication and relationship-building at the state and national levels.

He is a former national and state FFA officer and remains active with the Ohio FFA Association and National FFA Organization, assisting with interviews, mentoring students and supporting state convention activities. McCoy also provides leadership development training for the Ohio HOSA state officer team and serves as a national speaker and facilitator, presenting on grassroots advocacy, media engagement and leadership development. In addition, he and his wife volunteer in children’s ministry programs through their local church.

“These individuals have already made their mark on Ohio agriculture, and I am excited that they want to take their leadership skills to the next level,” said Marlene Eick, director of AgriPOWER. “This program will not only give participants a deeper understanding of the farm and food sector here in Ohio and across the country, it will also give them the tools they need to become even stronger advocates for an industry they are already passionate about.”

One of the sessions will take place in Washington, D.C., to give participants a better understanding of national and global issues, and an out-of-state session in California will help them learn about the differences and similarities in agriculture outside of Ohio.

Partnering with Ohio Farm Bureau on AgriPOWER Class XVI are Ohio Corn & Wheat, AgCredit, Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, Ohio Soybean Council, and heritage partner Nationwide.

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ryan Matthews, 614-246-8210 or [email protected].

Editors: A high-resolution photo of Kolesen McCoy is available for download.