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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Modesty and excellence are cornerstones of the Pozderac family and farm in Mount Vernon. Winners of the 2017 Ohio State Fair Market Turkey Show, siblings Maribeth and Milan Pozderac are not ones to brag of their many accomplishments. Third generation Farm Bureau members with a rich history of agriculture in the family, these two have embraced opportunities through 4-H and FFA since they were old enough to walk.
“There is no bigger responsibility than taking care of an animal,” Milan Jr. said as he elaborated on the many benefits that showing and caring for animals has brought to him and his family. Milan now 19, Maribeth, 16 and their older sister Abby, 20, began showing sheep in pee-wee classes, branching out to hogs and turkeys as they grew older.
“I grew up in agriculture, and I could see all the benefits from it, the lessons I learned, and I wanted that experience for them,” said their mother, Kim. Their house and barn are full of ribbons and trophies from the many classes in which they have competed, including grand and reserve titles at both their local Knox County Fair and the Ohio State Fair.
FFA has been the gateway to many of these experiences for the Pozderac family.
“It helped to teach them the expanse of agriculture, not just corn farming or dairy cows, it’s so much more advanced than that,” said Milan Sr. “These kids got to grow up understanding that, I didn’t. Growing up understanding how big agriculture really is, that’s such an important thing.”
All three children have participated in a wide range of Career Development Events and Supervised Agricultural Experiences through FFA, from soils, to public speaking, job interviews and much more. Their leadership accomplishments also run in the family, with Milan and Abby both serving as state FFA officers and Maribeth, a high school junior, currently serving as her chapter’s vice president.
These dedicated showmen have exhibited commitment to not only their own animals and projects, but also the community as a whole. That was apparent last year when avian influenza swept the state. Instead of exhibiting at the fair and risking infection, Maribeth raised 25 turkeys last year and sold them, donating all of the profits to Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian International Relief organization.
“FFA has really helped me with my goal setting and always working towards something bigger,” Maribeth said.
Photos submitted by the Pozderac Family and Lyndsey Murphy
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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