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Baldridge is the new director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture

Brian Baldridge is the new director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

As director he will provide leadership for the state’s agriculture industry and oversee regulatory, food safety, and consumer protection programs.

“It’s been great to join the agency and realize the impact the Ohio Department of Agriculture has all across our great state whether it’s animal health, auctioneers, dairy, farm preservation, food quality, and more as we look at every corner of the state and many other activities and services provided at the department of agriculture,” he says. “It’s been exciting for me to build those relationships with our divisions and division chiefs and realize the great folks that are serving in these roles that are in partnership with our agriculture community. They’re on the frontlines of making sure Ohio is safe and the quality is as good as the 11.5 million people in the state desire each and every day and we’re glad to provide these services.”

He tells Brownfield the H2Ohio program is a priority.

“There have been some challenges so we have to make sure that we’re doing the best practices. This includes the agriculture community. It also includes private septic systems and municipalities and wastewater systems and possible runoff into waterways that causes problems for the future,” he says. “We have a tremendous amount of water here in Ohio and we need to make sure we do our best to manage it and pass it on to the next generation and the generations after that.”

The initiative supports voluntary practices that improve the state’s water quality and conservation.  

“That is one of the top priorities within our organization. We have a tremendous partnership through our state agency but also through our local soil and water conservation districts as we manage this issue and work hand-in-hand with our agriculture community; the folks that are boots on the ground planting the crop each day and putting in place those best practices including voluntary nutrient management plans that have a tremendous impact,” he says. “We’re doing what’s right and what’s neat is as you look at the big picture, if we work smarter and not harder and make sure the proper nutrients are put into the ground, we know that saves money for farmers as well so it’s a win-win.”

He says mental health in the agriculture industry is also top of mind.

“I had a career as a firefighter and paramedic also and at times was in a first-responder role dealing with patients who were going through mental health challenges. That has helped me be able to talk about this issue as far as my experiences,” he says. “One of the things that I am going to be a point person in talking about is that the ag community must discuss (mental health). The governor has tremendous initiatives to bring awareness and take away the stigma about mental health challenges. We have to, as an ag community, watch out for our friends and neighbors and our colleagues. We have to insert ourselves a little bit if we have that concern of somebody.”

He served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives and represented the 90th House District that included Adams and Scioto counties and the eastern part of Brown County. During his tenure, Baldridge served on the House Agriculture Committee

Baldridge says agriculture is near and dear to his heart. He is the seventh generation raised on the family farm that is still operational today. He has participated in and been a vocal advocate for the 4-H community and FFA.

 Baldridge was appointed as the 40^th director of the ODA By Governor Mike DeWine earlier this month.

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Audio: Brian Baldridge