Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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The Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions livestock auction Aug. 4, 2019 showcased Ohio’s premium livestock, premier Junior Fair exhibitors and generous supporters. On the sale bill were grand champion and reserve champion market beef, market barrows and market lambs, as well as grand champion market goat, grand champion and reserve champion market chickens, grand champion market turkey and a block of Swiss cheese to represent the seven dairy champions. In full, the livestock was auctioned for a total of $328,000.
Ohio Farm Bureau and partners Bob Evans Farms, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Event Marketing Strategies, and Tim and Glenda Huffman and family purchased the grand champion market barrow, exhibited by Elijah Keplinger, from Clark County.
A high point of the Junior Fair program, the Sale of Champions was established in 1968 and showcases the animals that are selected as the premium entry in their species. This year’s sale broke four records: reserve grand champion market beef, reserve grand champion market barrow, reserve grand champion market lamb and grand champion market turkey.
“Our supportive buyers not only help these individual exhibitors, but also support the thousands of youth exhibiting each year through the Fair’s Youth Reserve Program,” said Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler. “These buyers make a huge impact on all young exhibitors here at the Fair, whether they are participating in the All-Ohio State Fair Band and Youth Choir, a sewing competition, or exhibiting their animals. Today, the buyers funded $239,500 for the Youth Reserve Program to be spread among our youth.”
Established in 1995, the Youth Reserve Program’s was developed to reward junior exhibitors who participate in the Ohio State Fair. Funds for the program come from the dollars received over a cap that is placed on the amount an exhibitor can receive from the Sale of Champions. The funds from the program are distributed among carcass contests, scholarships, outstanding market exhibitor program, outstanding breeding exhibitor program, showmanship, skillathons, 4-H and FFA. Prior to the 2019 Ohio State Fair’s opening, the Youth Reserve Program had awarded $3,533,315 to approximately 40,000 youth exhibitors since its inception.
“The Sale of Champions celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Junior Fair livestock exhibitors, whose efforts have led up to this moment,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “It’s a day they will remember their entire lives. I’d like to offer a sincere thank you to the many generous buyers who support not only these champions but junior exhibitors of the future who benefit from funds raised today for the Youth Reserve Program.”
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.
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