Our Grassroots 

Ohio Farm Bureau is a grassroots membership organization that is committed to supporting our farm and food community. You can find us involved everywhere from events hosted by county Farm Bureaus to the halls of local, state, and federal government, advocating for policy that supports the future of farming. We care about helping our members achieve success in agriculture.

Ohio Farm Bureau is a 501(c)(5) independent, non-governmental, private, volunteer-member powered organization. For more than 100 years, we have represented food, fiber, and fuel producers at a local level and on a national scale. Our members are our top priority, and we are tuned into the top agricultural issues affecting their lives.

A 26-member board of trustees governs the organization. Meet the state board members

Agriculture Community

Beginning with our longstanding partnership with Nationwide, Farm Bureau is proud to offer our members exclusive access to business solutions, expertise, and benefits that provide a them with a competitive advantage. Our Young Agricultural Professionals groups are active across the state and offer many opportunities to get involved with the agricultural community.

We are focused on growing the next generation of farmers and producers in Ohio. Along with trusted organizations like The Ohio State University, FFA and 4-H, Farm Bureau helps to promote career pathways, ag literacy and provide economic opportunity, networking opportunities and leadership development for young farmers. In addition, Ohio Farm Bureau is nurturing a passion for careers in agriculture by way of innovative programming and the many scholarships and grants for students and young farmers that we sponsor through the our foundation.

Our history

Ohio Farm Bureau was founded Jan. 27, 1919 on the campus of Ohio State University.

“People have within their own hands the tools to fashion their own destiny.” Murray Lincoln, Ohio Farm Bureau’s first executive vice president, famously rallied farmers around an idea, that a century later, still defines who we are. Lincoln spoke of “cooperation amongst the rural folks of Ohio along commercial, economical, legislative, social, and educational lines.” That’s us today, unwavering from our belief that Farm Bureau enables individuals to do together what can’t be done alone.

Over 100 years ago, the fledgling Farm Bureau existed in a different world. Some 30% of Ohioans lived on farms, Farm Bureau was promoting higher fertilizer use to boost our 26 bushels per acre corn yield, we were fighting to bring electricity to rural areas and feeding consumers who wanted the new amenity of processed and packaged foods.  

Over our history, our accomplishments include rural electrification, the establishment of the Current Agriculture Use Value program, setting standards to assure high quality care for food animals and tackling the complex challenge of protecting water quality. Along the way, we’ve spun off cooperatives and organizations that remain today. Undoubtedly the greatest is the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, which sold its first policy in 1926 and in 1955 became Nationwide, now a Fortune 66 company and the country’s largest farm insurer. Nationwide is still our most important and valued partner.

A historical marker commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding is on display outside Jennings Hall, the former Botany and Zoology building, at Ohio State University where in 1919 representatives of 76 county Farm Bureaus, with the assistance of university and county Extension leaders, established the organization.

 

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Advocacy

Catch up on the biggest policy issues impacting agriculture in Ohio and what we are doing to speak out for our members.

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Membership

Farm Bureau welcomes all who support our mission to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities. Explore the benefits membership has to offer.

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Community

Make a difference in your community and beyond, and meet other people who care about agriculture in Ohio.

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Foundation

Supporters like you are making the difference in the lives of future Ohio farmers through our innovative programs, grants and scholarships.

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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
The plan we are on is great. It’s comparable to my previous job's plan, and we are a sole proprietor.
Kevin Holy's avatar
Kevin Holy

Geauga County Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan
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
We really appreciate what Farm Bureau has done to get people interested in this line of work and workforce development and getting people interested in this industry.
Jody Brown Boyd's avatar
Jody Brown Boyd

Brown's Family Farm Market

Finding farm labor
We work terrifically with the Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, hosting at least one to two outreach town hall events every year to educate new farmers and existing farmers on traditional CAUV and woodlands.
David Thomas's avatar
David Thomas

Ashtabula County Auditor

CAUV: Past, present and future
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