Patterson serving on 2026 OFBF Policy Development Committee
Bill Patterson of Chesterland is serving on the 2026 Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Policy Development Committee.
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Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District Director/Engineer Carmella Shale celebrates with John and Mary Lou Hope of Thompson Township after signing their 129-acre farm into the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). This program purchases agricultural easements from landowners who volunteer to keep their land in agricultural production in perpetuity.
Since 2018, Geauga’s Board of County Commissioners, with assistance from Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, has been a Certified Local Sponsor to administer LAEPP in Geauga County. As land use continues to change and farmland disappears statewide, the significance of this program cannot be overstated. Geauga County has lost approximately 30% (nearly 29,000 acres) of farmland between 1964 and 2022.
Because of the Hope family’s commitment to the preservation of farmland, more farmland will stay protected as agricultural land.
Leave a Legacy! Preserving Geauga County Farmland for Generations to Come
The Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) provides funding to assist landowners in preserving farmland. The program purchases agricultural easements from landowners who volunteer to keep their land in agricultural production in perpetuity. For the ninth year, the Geauga County Board of County Commissioners, with assistance from Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, is a Certified Local Sponsor to administer the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s LAEPP in Geauga County. This allows the county to accept applications from landowners to preserve valuable farmland within Geauga County.
As a 2026 certified local sponsor, $109,628 has been allocated for Geauga County. Interested landowners should contact Geauga SWCD directly to set up a meeting to discuss eligibility for the program. SWCD is available to assist landowners through the application process. The 2026 application round is open now through Feb. 28. For more details, contact Carmella Shale at 440-834-1122 or [email protected] or visit geaugaswcd.com.
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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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