Sellman inducted into Crawford County Agricultural Hall of Fame

Melinda Sellman was inducted into the Crawford County Agricultural Hall of Fame Sept. 10, during the Crawford County Farm Bureau annual meeting at Reinhard Farms. The Crawford County Agricultural Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual to agriculture. An honorary plaque was presented to honor Sellman.

Sellman’s family nominated her for this award because of her impact in Crawford County as a mover and shaker in the agricultural community, especially regarding meat production. She organized the Farm Rescue Seminar in 1998, the first demonstration of the PVC grain rescue system in Ohio. She has been a successful business owner for 24 years and has served customers all across the state.

As a pioneer in marketing her family’s farms’ products, Sellman was the first in Crawford County to be licensed to sell meat at a farmers market and direct markets over 120 steers/year and 120 hogs/year off the farm. She started two farmers markets in Galion and has spoken to many civic groups regarding local foods.

Sellman continues to be a mentor and helps other homesteaders grow their businesses, produce and livestock production. She started a social media group to promote products specifically grown in the Crawford County area. She continues to advocate for local farmers and promote local ag to the general public.

Crawford County Farm Bureau established the Crawford County Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2018. Applications for the 2025 Crawford County Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees will be available at crawford.ofbf.org next year. Nominations may be made by an individual or organization to recognize a farmer, breeder or someone in the agricultural industry.

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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