Ohio State Fair

In mid-February, Ohio’s agriculture groups submitted the following letter to Gov. Mike DeWine asking him to release his plans for the safe operation of this year’s fairs as soon as possible. The letter was penned by Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Ohio Pork Council, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Ohio Soybean Association.

Dear Governor DeWine:

On behalf of the undersigned Ohio agricultural groups, we thank you for your ongoing support of agriculture in our state. We also greatly appreciate you promoting many agricultural priorities in your budget proposal with strong investments in broadband expansion, H2Ohio funding, and making sure the inspection programs in the Department of Agriculture have the resources they need to enable business to continue.

One area with which we remain very concerned, however, is the future of our state, county and independent fairs. We appreciate your recognition of the importance of our fairs and your love of 4-H, FFA, livestock shows and all the great educational opportunities that are part of our fairs.

While it is hard to imagine with snow still on the ground, our fair season is just around the corner and we are very concerned that the county, independent and Ohio State fairs will not have the adequate time needed to prepare and move forward without immediate guidance from the Governor’s Office. We ask that you release your plans for the safe operation of fairs this year as soon as possible.

Many of our members count on the income from the sale of livestock for 4-H and FFA projects and those sales are a major source of their farm income on an annual basis. Families with youth count on these 4-H and FFA projects as learning and leadership experiences and as potential income to start careers or attend college after their 4-H and FFA experiences. An entire fair industry including county, independent and the Ohio State fairs, concessionaires and ride companies all with a multitude of jobs are counting on the fact that there will be fairs in 2021 and beyond.

As you know, our Ohio State, independent and county fairs are extremely important to our members and communities. Our fair boards and exposition commission continue to be in limbo, waiting for guidance on how to move forward in the planning process with their respective fairs and we would ask for immediate guidance and authority for our fairs to be able to fully operate.

Additionally, along with the guidance to move forward, we would like to specifically lift up the urgent need for financial resources for the Ohio Exposition Commission so they can bring back the personnel needed to move forward with a safe and successful Ohio State Fair. We would ask for $2 million in additional funding so the Ohio Expo Commission can effectively operate.

It clearly has been a difficult time for our state and we thank you for your leadership in helping chart a path towards recovery. As always, we stand ready to be a resource for you and to help in moving our state forward.

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.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
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.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
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.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
Suggested Tags: