Breakout Sessions and Descriptions

The Ohio Farm Bureau Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee puts together an incredible array of speakers, taking feedback from young ag professionals as to their interests.

Breakout Sessions – Round 1 (Saturday, Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)

The Economic Mega Trends of Agriculture: Future Proofing Your Business & Life
Dr. David Kohl

The challenges and opportunities in the agricultural industry have never been greater and are often aligned with economic and business trends in the U.S. and globally. Geopolitics, military actions along with consumer and societal issues often shape strategies and actions.  Given the current and future environment, what are some time-tested golden rules in balancing your business and life to place the odds in your favor? Dr. Dave comes with decades of experience, as an award-winning educator, business owner and speaker who has provided practical tips and guidance for young, beginning and longtime owners in their journey for success. 

Thrive Through Your Season-Facing Fears, Embracing Change
Mary Pat Sass

Discover how to navigate the complexities of parenthood, farming life, and in-law relationships through life stages. Gain insights on embracing each unique season with confidence and resilience, empowering you to make impactful changes in your life and on your farm.

Avoiding the Mistakes of a Family Succession Planning Failure
Dr. Ron Hanson 

Most multi-generation family operations start with the best of intentions for keeping their farming ag business in the family for the next younger generation; but often that hopeful plan never happens. Most succession planning failures never evolve from what was discussed; but from what was NOT discussed. Side stepping difficult family conversations invites transition planning failures. This session will share workable solutions along with insights that help to avoid the common pitfall mistakes of succession planning so that a seamless transition of farm ownership can be achieved for the future success of young beginning farm producers and ag business owners.  

Legal with Leah – Hot Topics in Ag Law
Leah Curtis

In this session, we will do a lightning round of legal topics and updates that are in the news or helpful for agricultural businesses and farms.

Farming Through Adversity
Kane Lewis

Kane is a young farmer in southern Ohio who became a paraplegic at age 19. Come learn about his journey getting back to the farm and the life-changing work of AgrAbility.

Government Programs for Beginning Farmers
Jennifer Brown
Listen and educate yourself with government programs that are open to beginning and young farmers through USDA, Rural Development. These opportunities can help elevate your business and put cash into your operation.

Breakout Session – Round 2 (Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.)

The Economic Mega Trends of Agriculture: Future Proofing Your Business & Life
Dr. David Kohl

The challenges and opportunities in the agricultural industry have never been greater and are often aligned with economic and business trends in the U.S. and globally. Geopolitics, military actions along with consumer and societal issues often shape strategies and actions.  Given the current and future environment, what are some time-tested golden rules in balancing your business and life to place the odds in your favor?  Dr. Dave comes with decades of experience, as an award-winning educator, business owner and speaker who has provided practical tips and guidance for young, beginning and longtime owners in their journey for success. 

Thrive Through Your Season-Facing Fears, Embracing Change,
Mary Pat Sass

Discover how to navigate the complexities of parenthood, farming life, and in-law relationships through life stages. Gain insights on embracing each unique season with confidence and resilience, empowering you to make impactful changes in your life and on your farm.

Effective Leadership Principles: Character, Collaboration, & Communication
Steven Bush

Join Steve Bush, certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, for actionable insights that can elevate your leadership game. This session will be an enlightening journey through the core principles of exceptional leadership! Attendees will delve into the essential elements that define true leaders: character, collaboration, and communication. These principles are not just buzzwords; they are the bedrock of effective and inspiring leadership. Be prepared to explore how these tenets can transform your leadership style and drive your team to unparalleled success. 

Agritourism Liability
Nationwide (Workers’ Compensation credits available)

Join Nationwide to discuss liability mitigation for agritourism activities such as: haunted farms, corn mazes, hayrides, petting zoos, pick your own operations and roadside stands.

Home Cooked Opportunities
Emily Marrison, Coshocton County OSU Extension

If you have a self-sustaining mindset and are looking for ways to provide for your family and others, this session will explore methods for preserving the food from your land. We’ll examine canning, freezing, dehydrating, freeze-drying, and discuss harvesting animals on the farm.

Breakout Session – Round 3 (Saturday, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.)

Transition Strategies for Young Ag Producer Succession Success
Dr. Ron Hanson 

Succession planning can be overwhelming journey with many challenging questions needing answers to achieve a successful transition of ag business ownership and management control between family generations. This session will outline a step-by-step management decision making process along with guidelines to formulate a succession planning pathway that empowers the future success for the next younger generation who eventually will be taking over the family farming ag business operation. Young ag producers must clearly communicate as well as convince other family members (especially parents) the important priority to identify/implement a long term planning vision that enables the  continued success of their farming ag business operation for future generations.  

Panel Discussion: Changing the Statistic – Women in Leadership on the Farm
Krysti Morrow & Rose Hartschuh

Join Rose Hartschuh and Krysti Morrow in a panel discussion to explore how to overcome barriers and leverage opportunities as a female farm leader. 

Rose Hartschuh currently represents northwest Ohio on the Ohio Farm Bureau Board of Trustees. She has previously served in a variety of leadership positions both at the state and county level for Farm Bureau and was the 2018 American Farm Bureau Excellence in Ag winner alongside her husband, Greg. She was in the first cohort of the Ohio State University’s Ag One program and was a past supervisor of the Soil & Water Conservation District. In 2021, Hartschuh was appointed to the Ohio Exposition Commission by Gov. Mike DeWine and currently serves that group as vice president. The Hartschuhs, along with their twin 11-year-old sons, farm with Greg’s parents, operating a dairy and raising grain crops, alfalfa and cover crops. They also raise a flock of 200 black-faced ewes in an indoor system.

Krysti and her husband, Levi, operate Rocky Knob Farms and Meats in McConnelsville. They have a commercial hair sheep operation as well as sell beef, lamb and chicken direct to consumer. Krysti has taken on various leadership roles within agriculture through Ohio Farm Bureau, Morgan County Farm Bureau and her local community. She serves on the Morgan County Farm Bureau board and has led the initiative to share about agriculture within the local schools for the past four years. She has also had the opportunity to participate in Ohio Farm Bureau events including the YAP legislative trip to Washington, D.C, AgriPOWER and most recently serve on the state Policy Development Committee.

Grain Marketing. What now?
Bailey Elchinger, StoneX

After a tough 2024 grain marketing year what lies ahead for 2025? How your farm can and should be prepared for what lies ahead.

Sustainability – Trend or Here to Stay
Micah Mensing, Farm Credit Mid-America

From the origins of the sustainability movement to today, we’ll discuss existing programs, why businesses are looking to farmers and what agriculturalist should know about sustainability.

Ohio Forestry: The Solution to the Impending Bourbon Crisis
Jenna Reese

Many landowners have woodlands connected to their property, which are an under-utilized crop that could diversify operations and add income. Discover the possibilities of active forest management and Ohio’s vast forest products industry.

Breakout Session Round 4 (Saturday, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

Speak Now: Starting Conversations for a Legacy that Lasts
Wright & Moore Law Co. LPA

This session dives into the art of starting meaningful succession planning conversations within family farms. We will explore practical strategies to “speak now”—to navigate sensitive topics such as retirement, ownership, management, bringing in successor generations, and seeking professional support. With insights on framing the various succession issues, we will explore tools that can protect family legacies, minimize future conflicts, and ensure the farm continues to thrive for years to come.

Fitness for Farm Life, Laura Akgerman

Farming is hard work! Lifting, carrying, hauling, and bending can take a toll on your body and cause aches and pains. Learn about good body mechanics, safe lifting, ergonomics and stretches that you can do while you’re working.

Mock Land Auction

Want to purchase land? Come experience a mock multi-parcel farmland auction to learn the mechanics of this sales method.

YAP Opportunities, YAP State Committee

Learn about the various ways you can continue to grow through the Young Ag Professionals program including contests, awards, state committee, travel opportunities and more! 

Behind the Slides Tour, Kalahari Staff

Have you ever wondered what a resort looks like behind the scenes? In this session, you will take a guided tour behind the slides and see the inner workings of Kalahari Resort.  During the tour, you will hear the history of ownership, the business model of the ownership family, and lots of facts and figures about Kalahari!