What is Ohio Farm Bureau? We are the Voice of Agriculture.

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, nongovernmental, 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.

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, s cholarships and grants for students and young farmers that we sponsor through 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 ready-to-eat 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 75 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.