Fun facts about dairy cows
The dairy farmers across America send many thanks to consumers for buying milk, cheese and other dairy products!
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County Farm Bureau boards across Ohio are accepting nominations, and if you’ve ever considered becoming more involved in agriculture advocacy, I encourage you to take a serious look at serving.
It is an opportunity to have a seat at the table where important conversations about the future of agriculture are taking place. It is an opportunity to bring forward the concerns you hear from your neighbors, your community and your industry, and work together to find solutions.
Many people see Farm Bureau through the lens of events, educational programs, scholarships or community outreach. While those things are important, serving on a county Farm Bureau board is so much more than planning activities.
Serving on a board means sharing your perspective while listening to others. It means learning about issues impacting agriculture at the local, state and national levels. It means understanding that even if an issue doesn’t directly affect your operation, it may be having a tremendous impact on another farmer somewhere else in Ohio — or across the country.
It means recognizing that both small and large farms matter. It means recognizing that dairy, grain, livestock, specialty crop and agribusiness operations all have unique challenges and deserve representation.
It means understanding that the needs of a farmer in one county may be different than the needs of a farmer hundreds of miles away, but that agriculture is strongest when we stand together.
Farm Bureau is a true grassroots organization. Policies begin with members. Ideas come from members. Solutions come from members. The policies developed around board tables today often become the foundation for legislative priorities tomorrow. Those priorities can eventually become laws and regulations that help farmers continue producing the food, fiber and fuel our country depends on.
That process only works when people are willing to get involved.
Today, farmers make up roughly 2% of the population. Think about that for a moment. Just 2%. Yet every day, decisions are being made that impact agriculture. That’s why our voice matters. That’s why participation matters. And that’s why we need farmers, agribusiness professionals and agriculture advocates willing to step forward and serve.
The challenges facing agriculture aren’t getting smaller. New issues continue to emerge, and sometimes it feels like the punches just keep coming. But imagine what agriculture would look like if organizations like Farm Bureau didn’t exist. Imagine if farmers and agribusiness owners stopped showing up, stopped participating and stopped advocating for the industry they love.
Who would be left to tell agriculture’s story? Who would be left to protect our ability to farm? Who would be left to ensure the next generation has the opportunity to do the same?
The future of agriculture depends on people who are willing to be part of the conversation, part of the solution and part of the leadership.
If you’ve ever thought about serving, now is the time. Agriculture needs your voice.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” — Margaret Mead
If you are interested in getting more involved with Farm Bureau, view the article, “Your Voice Matters,” or call / text me at 440-812-670.
Submitted by Mandy Orahood, the organization director for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, serving Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties.
OFBF Mission: Working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
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.
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.
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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