2026 Trumbull County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting highlights
Trumbull County Farm Bureau held its 2026 Annual Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at DiLucia’s Banquet Hall in Warren.
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Trumbull County Farm Bureau held its 2026 Annual Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at DiLucia’s Banquet Hall in Warren. President Marsha Stanhope presided over the evening, welcoming 66 members, local officials, and guests. Social hour began at 6 p.m., followed by an invocation by Gary Smallsreed and dinner catered by DiLucia’s Banquet Hall.
Board of Trustees were voted on and elected. Those re-elected to the board were Monica Culp, Steve Kacerski and James Allen. Sydney Morrison was newly elected. Steve Kacerski and Gary Smallsreed were elected to serve as delegates for the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in 2027, with Richard Moody as first alternate and James Allen as second alternate.
Farm Bureau members voted on local policies that guide our county Farm Bureau and established policy positions for submission to the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. State delegates will vote on these proposals at the 2026 OFBF Annual Meeting in Columbus, Dec. 10–11. Adopted policies and discussion topics included:
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- Land Use & Data Centers: Supporting responsible data center development prioritizing non-agricultural land or brownfields, opposing tax abatements, and requiring developers to fully cover utility infrastructure costs and protect water quality.
Energy & Infrastructure: Supporting responsible development of the Lake to River natural gas pipeline corridor along State Route 11 while protecting agricultural topsoil and subsurface tile.
Property Tax & CAUV: Supporting a comprehensive property tax overhaul that protects CAUV and rural local services without relying on sales-tax-only models.
Forestry & Environment: Establishing safety, site cleanup, and waste management standards for portable sawmills operating on private forestland, and requiring wetland disclosures to prospective property buyers at the time of sale.
Rural Safety & County Fairs: Supporting rural safety training for fire and emergency personnel and backing safety, codes of conduct, and funding for county fairs.
Organization Director Mandy Orahood recognized lawmakers evaluated by our county Farm Bureaus and the Ohio Farm Bureau Agriculture for Good Government Political Action Committee (AGGPAC) for their strong support of farm families, honoring Rep. David Thomas (House District 65) and Congressman David Joyce.
Pictured left to right: Marsha Stanhope, Farm Bureau president and Rep. David Thomas, House District 65.
Monica Culp presented $2,750 in total scholarships to support local agricultural and higher education pursuits and recognized Sydney Morrison, recipient of $1,000 attending The Ohio State University majoring in agriscience education; Sophia Sutton, recipient of $750 attending The Ohio State University pursuing nursing; Vada Allen, recipient of $500 attending Penn State – New Kensington; and Carter Kibler, recipient of $500 attending the University of Mount Union.
Pictured left to right: Monica Culp, Trumbull Farm Bureau; Garry Kibler, father of Carter; Amy Sutton, mother of Sophia; Sydney Morrison; and Marsha Stanhope, Farm Bureau president.
Volunteers were recognized for signing new and renewal memberships. Those volunteers who signed 1 new or winback member were Callae Moody, Gary Smallsreed, Marsha Stanhope, Mary Smallsreed, Monica Culp and Richard Moody. The following volunteers were recognized for signing 2 or more members and received a custom farm sign: Barb Clemson, Callae Moody, Gary Smallsreed, James Allen, Marie Morris, Marsha Stanhope, Mary Smallsreed, and Monica Culp. Marsha Stanhope and Mary Smallsreed received OFBF gift cards for signing 5+ new and winback members. Top signer honors went to Marsha Stanhope, who received an OFBF Carhartt Backpack Cooler for signing 5 new, 6 winback, and 53 renewal members.
Pictured left to right: Marie Morris, James Allen, Richard Moody, Gary Smallsreed, Callae Moody, Marsha Stanhope, Monica Culp, Mary Smallsreed.
Outgoing trustee Julie McCormick was recognized for her service, and Marsha Stanhope was honored as her presidential term concluded. Marsha Stanhope presented the gavel and installed Monica Culp as incoming county president. Platt Insurance presented a Fire Ball gift to Glen Brugler for his dairy farm.
Pictured left to right: Marsha Stanhope, Monica Culp, and Julie McCormick
A Silent Auction was held, raising $915 to support the Trumbull County Farm Bureau scholarship fund.
The annual meeting was also a celebration of the work our members, volunteers, and staff put into representing our Mission Statement: “Working together with Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.”
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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