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Ohio Farm Bureau Federation honored three people who have left indelible marks on the agriculture industry and Farm Bureau. The 2024 Distinguished Service Award recipients are Dr. John Mossbarger of Fayette County, Sen. Rob Portman of Warren County and Jane Scott of Franklin County. The honorees were recognized Dec. 12 at the 106th annual meeting of Ohio Farm Bureau in Columbus.  

Dr. John Mossbarger

Dr. John Mossbarger is a veterinarian and president of Midland Acres, Inc., a family-owned breeding farm in Bloomingburg, Ohio, and home to many top stallions over the years.

He is a past president of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Ohio Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, a member of the Fayette County Harness Horsemen’s Association, and served as a state trustee on the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation board. 

In addition to Ohio Farm Bureau’s Distinguished Service Award, Mossbarger was elected to the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2024, received the 2021 Maynard and Stella Hagemeyer Significant Contribution Award by the Ohio Chapter of U.S. Harness Writers Association and the Rambling Willie Achievement Award in 2005.

For Dr. Mossbarger, his career has always been about building relationships within Ohio’s $1 billion equine industry. Through those relationships, he has also built upon a family legacy, as a trusted veterinarian, respected breeder and reliable friend, that will last for generations. 

Sen. Rob Portman

Sen. Rob Portman’s career in public service spanned three decades and included service in three presidential administrations as well as two terms in the United States Senate and six terms in the United States House of Representatives. 

In the George W. Bush administration, he served in two cabinet-level jobs: as director of the Office of Management and Budget as well as United States Trade Representative. Under President George H.W. Bush, Portman served as associate counsel to the president and director, White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

Known for his civility, successful bipartisan policymaking, work ethic, and grasp of a broad range of complex issues, over 220 of Portman’s bills were signed into law by Presidents Biden, Trump and Obama during his tenure in the Senate, including the farm bill in 2012 and 2018. Shortly before his retirement from the Senate, he served as the lead Republican negotiator on the bipartisan infrastructure law that is making historic improvements to the nation’s roads, ports, rails, bridges, and broadband, all vital to the success of American agriculture.

Portman currently serves as the founder of the Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati and a Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Practice of Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute.

Jane Scott

Jane Scott was an early advocate for the Ohio wine industry. She co-owned Wyandotte Wine Cellars, and in 1990 established William Graystone Winery in Columbus’s Brewery District. She served on the Ohio Grape Industries Committee and was president of the Ohio Wine Producers Association’s board, helped establish the Vintage Ohio event and served on the advisory group that developed the Ohio Proud branding program. Later, Scott spent two decades as president and CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Club, a nonprofit presenting weekly public forums on issues relevant to the community.

Scott currently serves on the board of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation. She has served on the advisory board of the Franklin County OSU Extension Service, OSU Alumni Association, Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council and the Ohio 4-H Foundation.

She has always worked to connect the agricultural community and the business community, and describes one of her passions as bringing people together.

Candidates for Distinguished Service Awards are nominated by Farm Bureau volunteers, county organizations and state leaders.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities. Learn more at ohiofarmbureau.org.

This is a news release for use by journalists. Questions should be directed to Ty Higgins, 614-246-8231 or [email protected].

Editors: Photos of Dr. Mossbarger, Sen. Portman and Ms. Scott are available for download.