Winter Leadership Experience Breakout Sessions

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.

If the speakers are present on LinkedIn, that link to connect with them is included, as well as learn more about their professional expertise.

If we huff and we puff, will we blow your house down?
Jolene Brown
In this interactive presentation, Jolene Brown will share lessons learned from her 30+ years of working with farm families. She’ll address the issues of communication and conflict, fair and equal, entitlement and transition. She’ll provide 10 template tools to help with the transition of labor, management, leadership, and ownership.

This workshop will provide a time of laughter, appreciation and valuable lessons learned from Jolene’s work with those in family business. Leave with tested and applicable “tools” to help manage, lead and transition the business with an understanding that in order to honor the family, there is important work to be done in and for the business.

(Note: This session will be offered at 9:30 and again at 10:30 a.m.)

Current and priority issues
Whittney Bowers and Evan Callicoat
In this session, attendees will learn about Ohio Farm Bureau’s priority issues for 2024, as well as current issues we are advocating for at the Ohio Statehouse and in Congress.

Let’s get it started, YAP!
Johnny Connigim & Ashley Donnelly
Let’s get it started, YAP will be a brief discussion on the various options for starting a farm with the necessary legal protections. Topics discussed will include business structure options, the role of insurance, and how to get your family to start the farm succession discussion.

Feel confident & look like a pro
Marlene Eick
Whether it’s nailing a first introduction, connecting with others at a networking reception, or powering through a Zoom meeting, you need to feel comfortable and confident in a variety of professional settings. Get the tools you need to look like a pro (and still be yourself)!

Making money with soil health
Mitchell Hora
Learn the latest in the soil health, carbon, and regenerative ag space from 7th generation Iowa farmer, Mitchell Hora and learn how to use the soil health principles as offensive management tools on your farm.

Grain markets 101
Bailey Elchinger
The basics of grain marketing, from factors affecting the markets today to the steps you can take to form your own grain marketing plan.

Farming on the “Shares”: Limiting liability when farming together
Ryan Conklin
Mom and Dad own the combine, you bought the grain cart, your uncle provides the semi and hopper trailer, you all farm together. These arrangements are all too common in agriculture. What happens if there is a farm accident? How can you limit your risk and protect key assets? In this session, attendees will learn practical strategies to limit liability for your family and farm.

Protecting the foundation of farming
Brooks Lamb
Farmland is threatened. American Farmland Trust’s research suggests that the U.S. could compromise nearly 20 million acres of agricultural land between 2016-2040. Over 518,000 acres would be lost in Ohio alone. In this presentation, AFT’s Brooks Lamb will reckon with these projections while outlining steps that can yield a better future for farmland and farmers. He will also share how farmland protection can facilitate land access — which is a major challenge for young farmers.

Mock Land Auction
Devin Dye and Matt Bowers

Participants will experience a mock multiparcel farmland auction to learn the mechanics of this sales method, preparing them for future land purchases.

Certification Sessions

CPR Training
Beef Quality Assurance
Workers’ Compensation Safety Training

Learn more

Farm Tours

Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory
Franklin Park Conservatory -Self-guided Tours
North High Brewery, Bus Host: Ashley Rose
Middle West Spirits, Bus Host: Jenna Reese
Mid Ohio Food Bank