Ohio Farm Bureau offers many opportunities for members to grow their professional and leadership skills.
Ag Literacy
County Farm Bureaus around Ohio are working to provide ag literacy programs to enhance students’ knowledge about agriculture. Ohio Farm Bureau and County Farm Bureaus sponsor and partner with Ohio FFA and Ohio 4-H programs.
Golden Owl Award
Presented by Nationwide, Ohio FFA, Ohio Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Mid-America and AgCredit, the Golden Owl Award recognizes agricultural educators across Ohio for their tremendous contributions to helping the next generation of agricultural leaders. Students, fellow teachers and other supporters can nominate their favorite agricultural teacher and summarize what makes him or her the best in the state.
Youth Leadership Development
Ohio State Jr. Fair Board
The Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board is made up of Ohio’s best and brightest young leaders, hand-picked to contribute to the success of the Ohio State Fair each year. Selected to represent their respective youth organizations, these students serve on behalf of thousands of students across Ohio. As ambassadors for Ohio Farm Bureau, students are able to share their experiences and emphasize the value of the Junior Fair with patrons throughout the 12 days of the fair.
Applications for 2024 are available via the Ohio State Fair. Learn more
ExploreAg introduces high school students to various careers in science, engineering, and technology in the food and fiber industry and engages them in actively pursuing career paths that can help them become a part of the sustainable future
of agriculture. ExploreAg is open to students from varied backgrounds, with diverse skills and interests, and provides them with an opportunity to explore and understand available career paths in the agriculture and food industries. Our goal is that student’s time at ExploreAg will lead them to discover a passion they may not have considered yet.
Collegiate Farm Bureau
Collegiate students at Ohio State University, Wilmington College and Wright State University Lake Campus who are engaged and interested in the food and agriculture industry can join the Collegiate Farm Bureau. Collegiate Farm Bureau serves as a connection between current industry professionals and students, promotes agriculture and related fields and works to develop future leaders of the agriculture industry by providing opportunities for students in leadership and civic engagement, career development, professional development, and experiential learning.
Ohio students from rural, suburban and urban communities and pursuing degrees connected in some way to agriculture are invited to apply for a set of scholarships through four programs supported by the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation.
Young Ag Professionals
Ohio Farm Bureau works to grow future leaders and to develop the next generation of leaders for Ohio agriculture. The YAP program is for members ages 18 to 35 who are full- and part-time farmers and professionals in related ag industries and educational institutions.
Young Ag Professionals Conference
The Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience is an annual conference with the opportunity for young professionals to build personal and professional skills, network with agricultural leaders and learn to make a difference in their community, Farm Bureau and agriculture. Conference sessions cover topics ranging from traditional agriculture and niche farming/marketing to advocacy and consumer education topics.
State Young Ag Professionals Committee
YAP State Committee members serve a two-year term and provide leadership to program development, including all facets of planning the Winter Leadership Experience. Applications for the 2025-2027 committee are open and due by May 13, 2024.
Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
Young professionals with strong leadership potential are selected each year to attend a three-day experience to learn how to share their ideas with members of Congress, learn about the impact of federal and global policy and how to grow personally and professionally in advocacy.
Contest and Awards celebrating Young Ag Professionals
Farm Bureau’s strength depends on its members’ abilities to analyze agricultural and community issues and decide on solutions that best meet their needs. Competitive events for young agricultural professionals provide an opportunity to recognize outstanding members for their achievements in business and in the community.
Outstanding Farmer and Excellence in Agriculture
The Outstanding Young Farmer contest is designed to recognize successful young farmers, age 35 or younger, for achievements in the business of farming and leadership in the agricultural community. The Excellence in Agriculture award is for members who work primarily off-farm jobs and are leaders in Farm Bureau and their community.
Discussion Meet
The Discussion Meet is a competitive leadership event designed to simulate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems.
AgriPOWER
Each year, Ohio Farm Bureau selects individuals to participate in AgriPOWER, a leadership and advocacy development program. This intensive experience consists of seven multiday institutes (17 total days). Program topics include public policy issues training plus industry tours and experiences. Additionally, specific sessions help class members develop important skills necessary to become effective leaders and advocates for agriculture. Two of the institute sessions are held out of state (one in Washington, D.C. plus a state visit that changes each year) to help class members gain a valuable understanding of national and global issues.