Applications for Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans now available
Members have three ways to apply: contacting a certified agent, calling 833-468-4280 or visiting ohiofarmbureauhealthplans.org.
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Kim Harless is senior organization director for Jackson-Vinton, Pike and Scioto counties. In this role, she is a liaison between the county Farm Bureaus and Ohio Farm Bureau. She assists county groups as they develop and implement programs to strengthen their organizations, serve members and affect positive change in their communities.
She attended high school at Eastern High School and continued her education courses through Ohio State University and received a degree in business management from PBC.
What is something you can point to that has been accomplished thanks to the joint efforts of farmers and community members in your area?
The OSU OARDC Research Farm in Jackson was in discussion to be shut down, several years ago. When our community and farmers heard this, they partnered with the local Farm Bureau, put together a huge tractor/equipment convoy through the middle of town and drove to a county commissioner meeting. They all went in and expressed their concerns and emphasized why it was important for agriculture and the community to keep it in Jackson County. The commissioners made a great decision to keep it in Jackson with a life-time lease. This is an example of farmers working together with the community for a great cause.
What is your favorite Farm Bureau member benefit?
Our public policy department – there is no other organization that provides this type of benefit to their members.
Tell us about one big project one of your counties has planned or has recently conducted.
Well, all four of my counties do an amazing Agriculture Day for all the 2nd, 3rd or 5th graders in their respective counties. It’s a free field trip to the local fairgrounds or OARDC research farm. Local producers, businesses and agriculture agencies/organizations come together for a full day of educating our youth about agriculture through hands-on presentations. Our local FFA and 4-H teen leaders assist with this event by doing presentations or serving as teacher helpers and guides. There is a Design a T-shirt Contest and the winning design goes on the Ag Day T-shirt that all the kids receive free, compliments of local business sponsors. We also have a canned food drive with this event and the food is distributed to a local food pantry. These are true grassroots events, involving the whole community in some way.
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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