November/December 2026 Our Ohio
The theme of the November/December issue of Our Ohio magazine is health, safety and risk, and we explore all three in various ways.
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It can be protecting against a bad weather event, preparing for changes in the market or understanding the risk that comes with a new opportunity. At its core, risk management is about being prepared to make the best decision you can when conditions change. That starts with asking the right questions, understanding your options and having practical information available when you need it.
The C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences is one resource bringing valuable information to those conversations. Under Swank Chair Gabe Lade, the program is bringing research and data to some of the biggest issues facing agriculture and rural Ohio.
Gabe and his team are helping farmers, community leaders and policymakers better understand how Ohio is changing and what it could mean for our farm families. For complicated topics, I find it helpful to see data and not just read it. Gabe and the team are especially good at this with content such as:
- Ohio Tax Explainer — Who taxes you in Ohio, what they charge, and where the money goes.
- Ohio Urbanization — Provides interactive maps of where Ohio’s urban footprint is expanding.
- Ohio Township Zoning Coverage — Currently in development, a map will show where zoning authority applies and where land remains unzoned.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out the Swank program’s website (see graphic) and follow Gabe’s Substack for even more research and perspective.
The same idea of bringing useful data and research to the challenges and decisions facing our agricultural businesses is behind the newly reimagined Farm Bureau Intel from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Through a new three-part approach focused on market insights, policy analysis and consumer research, Farm Bureau is providing greater understanding and helping farmers, policymakers and consumers navigate the ever-changing agricultural landscape. Read an excerpt on page 13.
We are always looking for new ways to give members practical information to help manage risk and evaluate new business opportunities. One of the newest tools is our member-exclusive Agritourism Guide (story on page 35).
We cannot predict every challenge or opportunity that comes to our farmgate, but trusted research, practical resources and better information can help us prepare for whatever comes next.
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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Farm safety vs. risk management: What’s the difference and why it matters
Farm safety and risk management are deeply interconnected, forming the foundation of a resilient and sustainable operation.
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Across the Table: Risk management can mean a lot of different things on the farm
We cannot predict every challenge or opportunity that comes to our farmgate, but trusted research, practical resources and better information can help us prepare for whatever comes next.
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Scholarship recipient on mission to bring expertise back to Ohio
Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Ambassadors Scholarship recipient Josie Jennings of Clark County plans to study agricultural law to help farm families preserve their land and legacies.
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