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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Ashtabula County Farm Bureau recognizes the importance of developing future leaders in the agriculture industry and is committed to investing in their education. With that mission in mind, we are thrilled to announce our 2026 scholarship recipients! This year’s winners represent the bright future of our community, with career paths ranging from agricultural communication and technology to elementary education. We are incredibly proud to support these outstanding students as they pursue their degrees and find unique ways to support the agricultural industry.
Alyssa Bullard receives $900. Alyssa is the daughter of Christopher and Jaime Bullard of Andover. She is a 2026 graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School and will be attending The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster majoring in agricultural communications in the fall. She was an active member of the PV FFA chapter throughout high school. Alyssa plans to use her ag communications degree to bridge the gap between farm research and the public by fighting bad information, promoting new farm practices and making sure lawmakers have the facts they need to make good decisions for our industry.
Ryan Waldo receives $750. Ryan is the son of Ryan and Kris Waldo of Rome. He is a 2025 graduate of Grand Valley High School and is currently attending The Ohio State University majoring in agricultural systems management where he is an active member of the Agricultural Systems Management Club, Crops and Soil Club, and judges dairy cattle with the OSU Dairy Club. Ryan works at the OSU Ag Fabrication shop. He and his family have been Farm Bureau members for multiple years and volunteer at Ag Day. Ryan’s future plan is to use his education in ag engineering and technology to directly improve farm efficiency, boost crop yields and lower input costs for farmers. By learning how to use and retrofit new technologies like lidar and smart equipment, he wants to help ensure that agriculture stays productive and viable for the future.
Alexa Flack receives $350. Alexa is the daughter of Evan and Dana Flack of Williamsfield. She is a 2024 graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School and is currently attending Western Governors University, majoring in elementary education. Flack and her family have been Farm Bureau members for several years, and Alexa has been involved with Farm Bureau through youth activities and mental health initiatives. When she graduates from college, she plans to integrate agriculture into everyday subjects like science, reading, and history to build early awareness of agriculture. By teaching young students about plant growth, sustainability, and the true cost of wasting food, Alexa hopes to shape a future generation that supports and values American agriculture.
Congratulations to you all and best of luck in your future endeavors!
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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