Ohio agriculture workforce development

Ohio Farm Bureau recently provided testimony before the Ohio Senate Education Committee in support of Senate Bill 328, legislation designed to strengthen career-connected learning and better prepare students for Ohio’s workforce needs.

“Our organization believes that the better we can prepare our students for the workforce, the better off those students and our state will be in the future,” said Evan Callicoat, Ohio Farm Bureau director of state policy.

Introduced by Sen. Kyle Koehler, SB 328 would ensure students are introduced to career paths earlier in their education while improving data collection and cross-agency collaboration. The bill creates personalized academic and career plans beginning in eighth grade, allowing students and parents to track progress and make informed decisions on future pathways. The strengthened data reporting and agency coordination provided in SB 328 would also help deliver measurable results for the programs and provide accountability for taxpayer investment.

Workforce development is a long-standing priority for Ohio Farm Bureau and the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, supporting hands-on education that prioritizes career exploration and workforce readiness within agriculture and other in-demand occupations. Ohio Farm Bureau was also a key member of the Career-Connected Learning Coalition, which devoted extensive discussion and research to developing this legislation.

“While not every student will join the agricultural industry, OFBF believes a robust education system that focuses on career-connected learning allows our students the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential,” Callicoat said.

Watch Callicoat’s testimony

 

Online Extra

To learn more about how Ohio Farm Bureau and the foundation are supporting the next generation of leaders, check out the recent Our Ohio magazine covering workforce development.

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Ryanna Tietje's avatar
Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau connections
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
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman's avatar
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
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
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
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