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Hello everyone! We are the Zuckers, and we farm in Marion and Wyandot counties. Jonathan is a 7th generation farmer working in partnership with his grandfather. They produce corn, soybeans, and sweet corn in Marion County. Alyssa keeps books for Stansbery Seed and Service and Tactical Ag. Alyssa’s family’s farm is in Wyandot County where they raise cattle, sheep, chickens, hay, corn, soybeans and wheat. 

Currently, we are finishing our final term on the YAP State Committee and will retire as co-chairs in January. Before we finish our term, we wanted to take a few minutes to look back on Young Ag Professionals programming in 2022!

Grateful for the experience

We’ve had so many opportunities during our time on the YAP State Committee. When we look back on this year there are a few specific experiences we are particularly grateful for.

The first is being able to attend the Winter Leadership Experience in Cincinnati for the first time. This was also our first event in person since the pandemic. It was wonderful connecting with members again, especially in a new city. This year we have also had the opportunity to travel across the state to join a new YAP group for their kick off meeting at the Pike County Fairgrounds. We were able to share our experience as committee members, talk about the benefits of being involved in Farm Bureau and share an evening together meeting new friends. The event featured axe throwing, so we also got to try a new skill. We’ve traveled near and far during our time on the committee which has provided us the chance to meet new people and continue to grow as individuals. 

It’s been a joy to serve on the state committee; this team is made up of incredibly talented individuals who are strong leaders. Each committee member has added immense value to the YAP program and organization as a whole. We are truly fortunate to have served alongside this dedicated team and we are so grateful to have had this opportunity to serve as co-chairs. 

Young Ag Professionals Year in Review

The Winter Leadership Experience moved for the first time in January 2022. Over 300 Young Ag Professionals gathered in Cincinnati for the premier professional development event. Looking ahead, the 2023 Winter Leadership Experience will be held at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. 

Special 10 opportunity

After Ohio’s Winter Leadership Experience, members traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher FUSION conference. Ten Young Ag Professionals traveled as part of the Special 10 program, which offers an expense-paid trip to the conference. Members had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions, keynote presentations, and network with Farm Bureau members from around the country. We also had the opportunity to cheer on Riley Eberhart in the Collegiate Discussion Meet contest. 

YAP local programming

This year local Young Ag Professionals had the opportunity to attend exciting new events locally. Check out the innovative programming hosted by the  2022 Local YAP Grant recipients. Not only were new programs offered, several new YAP groups were formed this year. Allen, Lawrence, Paulding, Seneca, Scioto, Pike, and Jackson-Vinton counties gathered YAP members together as newly established YAP groups! For new and established YAP groups, applications for the 2023 Local YAP Grants are still available. 

Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation

Jenna Gregorich, 2022 YAP foundation board director, led a team at the annual Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Golf Outing. YAP State Committee member John Bolte joined us for the event. While the team did not place at the event, they did enjoy a morning of golf and fellowship while supporting the OFB Foundation. 

Washington, D.C. Leadership Trip

This fall, 27 YAP members traveled to our nation’s capital to meet with legislators on behalf of Ohio Farm Bureau. Each member must show strong leadership potential and are hand-selected to share their ideas with members of Congress and to learn about international agriculture and how to grow personally and professionally. 

Young Agricultural Professionals awards

In December, we will recognize the outstanding YAP members for their achievements in business and in the community through the 2022 Young Ag Professionals Awards. The Excellence in Agriculture award winner is Stacie Anderson from Wood county. The Discussion Meet award winner is Mike Hannewald from Lucas county. John Hummel from Franklin county is the Outstanding Young Farmer this year. 

We look forward to celebrating our fellow Young Ag Professionals at the 2023 Winter Leadership Experience in January. We hope you will join us for the event!