Growing our Generation: Representing Ohio in Charlotte
Maggie Preston, Lincoln Deitrick and Denver Davis describe their role in agriculture, their Farm Bureau involvement and what it means to win their respective state awards.
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Growing our Generation e-newsletter features insights and ideas directly from Ohio’s young farmers and agricultural professionals. Sign up to get this e-letter sent directly to your inbox once a month.
“Watching fairgoers enter into the building with a sense of awe and excitement emphasized just how special the exhibit is. It filled me with a sense of pride, knowing that everyone who walked through our tunnels was entering into a small piece of the agricultural world and learning about the backbone of the Ohio State Fair,” said Ohio Farm Bureau ImAGine Ag Intern Leila Jacox.
The 75,000 square foot ImAGine Ag exhibit made its debut at the 2026 Ohio State Fair in the new Ohio Agriculture Center, giving thousands of visitors a hands-on, interactive learning experience.
Hear from the inaugural ImAGine Ag intern team: Delaney Bell, Leila Jaycox, Aidan Stammen and Katie Woodruff.
Delaney Bell, Muskingum County
What were your key takeaways from your internship this summer?
Thanks to the great leadership at the Ohio Farm Bureau, I’m walking away with invaluable skills and a ton of confidence. I learned how to adapt quickly, work as a team, and communicate comfortably, both face-to-face with the public and on camera. Overall, this internship pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Why do you feel it’s important that the Ohio Farm Bureau has a presence at the state fair?
The state fair brings people together from all walks of life, making it the perfect place for the Ohio Farm Bureau to connect with diverse audiences. It gives us a great platform to share the story of Ohio agriculture and show people the direct impact it has on their everyday lives.
Why do you feel it’s important that the Ohio Farm Bureau has a presence at the state fair?
Ohio Farm Bureau creates a platform to educate fairgoers of all ages about where their food comes from, showcase modern farming practices, and show, in a tangible way, how agriculture impacts their daily lives.
What were your key takeaways from your internship this summer?
Beyond learning the ins and outs of event execution and member engagement, this summer deepened my passion for agricultural advocacy. I had the privilege of seeing firsthand how the Ohio Farm Bureau builds meaningful relationships between producers and the public. The mentorship, connections, and real-world skills I gained here are things I’ll carry with me throughout my entire career.
Aidan Stammen, Franklin County
What were your key takeaways from your internship this summer?
I gained important personal and professional skills throughout my time with Ohio Farm Bureau, skills like adaptability, problem-solving, leadership and collaboration. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience to prepare me for my future.
Why do you feel it’s important that the Ohio Farm Bureau has a presence at the state fair?
Ohio Farm Bureau’s presence at the state fair is essential. Enlightening those who may not know a lot about agriculture and connecting their day-to-day lives back to agriculture is important.
Why do you feel it’s important that the Ohio Farm Bureau has a presence at the state fair?
It is extremely important for the Ohio Farm Bureau to maintain a strong presence at the state fair. Building on a long-standing tradition, the fair provides a vital opportunity to educate fairgoers on where their food, fiber, and fuel come from, while encouraging the public to support the farm families who produce those essential products.
What were your key takeaways from your internship this summer?
I gained an incredible amount from my internship this summer, sharpening both hard and soft skills, from event planning and legislative advocacy to real-time adaptability. Working alongside the media team allowed me to learn how to properly construct agricultural messaging and engage with media outlets to tell our story effectively. Above all, this summer was a masterclass in leadership. Seeing leaders at every level lead with passion, humility, and genuine care showed me what authentic leadership looks like. This is a lesson I will carry throughout my future career.
Conclusion
The debut of the ImAGine Ag exhibit marks an exciting new chapter for agricultural literacy in Ohio. Through interactive experiences, this intern team not only helped bridge the gap between consumers and producers, but also gained invaluable hands-on leadership skills. As the sun begins to set on their summer internship with Ohio Farm Bureau, they leave behind a lasting impact on fairgoers and have laid a strong foundation for the next generation of interns. If you are interested in interning for Ohio Farm Bureau, be on the lookout for recruitment details in the spring!
Upcoming Deadlines and Events
- Applications for the 2027 YAP Competitive Contests are open! Click here to learn more about each contest or to apply. Deadlines: Discussion Meet: Oct. 1, Outstanding Young Farmer and Excellence in Agriculture: Dec. 1.
- 2027 Winter Leadership Experience: Growing Connections, Shaping Legacy, Jan. 22-23 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center
- Open to members of all ages. Free child care available; children must be pre-registered. Discounted early bird registration ends Dec. 15. Registration closes Jan. 5. For more information or to register, visit ofb.ag/WLE.
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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