News

Ohio Farm Bureau recognizes its grassroots membership

Ohio Farm Bureau is recognizing the accomplishments of its members during the organization’s 104^th Annual Meeting.

Fourteen counties from Ohio have received American Farm Bureau County Activities of Excellence Awards, meant to honor unique, local, and volunteer-driven programs.

Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson says a lot of the programming developed in the state that benefits the ag community begins at the local, or county, level.

“It was absolutely incredible this year that 11 out of 24 of the AFBF County Activities of Excellence Awards went to Ohio, recognizing 14 counties and the programming they did,” he says. “There is wonderful programming and ideas across the state of Ohio all the time.” 

The winning counties receive a grant to participate in the Farm Bureau CAE showcase at the 2023 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Trade Show in January in Puerto Rico. AFBF received more than 140 entries across all membership categories, with 24 activities nationwide being selected to present at convention.

Here’s a look at the County Activities of Excellence (CAE) winners from Ohio:

Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas Counties: Check Your Engine

The county Farm Bureaus collaborated with their county’s Alcohol Drug Awareness and Mental Health Services Board and OSU Extension agents to address access to mental health services in rural communities.

Clinton County: A Therapy Benefit for Farmers

Clinton County Farm Bureau partnered with BetterHelp – the world’s largest therapy provider – to offer one free month of counseling to use in 2022.

Crawford County: Farm Safety Awareness

Crawford County Farm Bureau partnered with a local insurance agency to produce and distribute road safety yard signs in the spring and fall to help create awareness of farm equipment on the road during busy seasons. 

Fayette County: Storytime with a Farmer

Having farmers read books about agriculture to children at an elementary school, library and online was a highly effective way to build awareness and understanding of the industry.

Fulton County: Historic 1920s Farm Bureau Office Project

With its sponsorship of a 1920s Farm Bureau office, Fulton County is now part of Sauder Village and Museum’s 1920s Main Street program.

Gallia County: Meat your Local Butcher

Meat your Local Butcher provided Gallia County Farm Bureau members the opportunity to meet the three county butchers who operate in the county and learn from a meat science professor from a local university.

Geauga County: Amish Safety Day

Geauga County Farm Bureau joined forces with the county sheriff’s office, the State Highway Patrol, a local fire department, the local hospital, Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Soil and Water, and the county engineer’s office to provide an Amish Safety Day for the community.

Lucas County: Farm to Table Experience and Policy Development

Lucas County Farm Bureau planned and hosted a farm-to-table dinner for its annual meeting. The event fostered relationships between local food vendors and Farm Bureau members.

Pike County: Farm State of Mind

Pike County Farm Bureau partnered with local Nationwide agencies and OSU Extension to offer a free members-only event to get the conversation about mental health going in a very natural way.

Scioto County: Farm Bureau Goes to Market

Farm Bureau Goes to Market is a series of free events for kids that took place for four consecutive months at local farmers markets.

Wood County: Youth Development through County Fair Showmanship Event

Wood County Farm Bureau planned and hosted a Pee-Wee Beef Showmanship contest creating pathways to future involvement for youth in the area.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s mission is working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.

Patterson says he’s hopeful 2023 will be a normal year for Ohio Farm Bureau after a couple of challenging years stemming from supply chain disruptions and more

“It’s about being able to provide the programming, benefits, and supports that our members need to be the best advocates they can be,” he says.

Ohio Farm Bureau Innovation Awards          

OFBF also recognized county Farm Bureaus for their implementation of new and innovative programs within their communities. Counties that received the award earned a $1,500 prize and were recognized at the 2022 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.

The winners include Fayette County with storytime with a farmer; Fulton County with Historic 1920’s Farm Bureau Office; Gallia County with Meat Your Local Butcher; Geauga County with Amish Safety Day; and Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas counties with Check Your Engine.

Some of the other award recipients are:

Henry: Shine in the Show Ring

Henry County’s Shine in the Show Ring event was an alternative livestock show for individuals with developmental disabilities partnering with Junior Fair livestock exhibitors as mentors to present livestock projects to professional judges.

Auglaize, Logan, Mercer and Shelby: What Happens in Our Barn at Night 

Auglaize, Logan, Mercer and Shelby County Farm Bureaus used the award-winning “Barn at Night” book as the basis for social media outreach to promote agriculture to the community as part of National Agriculture Week.

Hancock, Hardin, Seneca and Wyandot: Women’s Agri-Intelligence Conference

Hancock, Hardin, Seneca and Wyandot County Farm Bureaus hosted a Women’s Agri-Intelligence Conference that focused on education, empowerment and the value of membership.

Distinguished Service Award

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation honored two individuals who have made significant contributions to agriculture and the organization. The 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipients are Judy Loudenslager of Marion County and Terry McClure of Paulding County.

Both honorees were recognized for lifetime achievements that benefited the state’s farming community. The awards were presented Thursday at the annual meeting in Columbus. 

Judy Loudenslager (posthumous)

A native of Marion County, Judy Loudenslager and her husband, Roy, are well known in the community where the family farm continues to thrive. She served on the Ohio Farm Bureau board of trustees, where she represented the Northwest Region from 2005 to 2012. She was also a former Marion County Farm Bureau president. Over the years, she was a member of the Ohio Agri-Women, Ohio Flying Farmers, Marion County Republican Central Committee, Marion County Republican Women’s Club, and she served as a 4-H advisor.

Terry McClure

Born and raised in Paulding County, Terry McClure grew up the fifth generation on McClure Farms which he now shares with his son, Ryan. McClure Farms produces corn, soybeans and wheat and maintains swine and cattle operations. Terry started a grain hauling and grain purchasing business in 1978 and, that same year, he joined Farm Bureau. He served as a Paulding County board trustee in the late 1980s, was elected to the Ohio Farm Bureau board of trustees in 1995, and was elected state president in 2000. He also served on the AFBF board of directors as well as the board of Farm Bureau Bank. In 2004, he was elected to the Nationwide board and retired from the board this year.

Candidates are nominated by Farm Bureau volunteers, county organizations, and state leaders.

Other members honored during the Annual Meeting

John Hummel of Canal Winchester is the winner of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young Farmer Award for 2022. The contest is designed to help young farmers strengthen their business skills, develop marketing opportunities and receive recognition for their accomplishments. Contestants are judged on the growth of their farm businesses and involvement in Farm Bureau and their community.

Hummel is the fifth generation to carry on the farming tradition in his family. He, along with his wife and two sons, reside and farm in central Ohio. He is a graduate of Ohio University where he studied business while working full-time on the family farm. Today, Hummel farms alongside his great uncle and uncle raising corn and soybeans. Together, they have doubled the size and capacity of their operation in the last 15 years.

Stacie Anderson of Wood County was recognized as the winner of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Agriculture Award for 2022. 

Anderson grew up on her family’s farm raising corn, soybeans, wheat, and specialty crops, while participating in 4-H and FFA as well. She is a graduate of Ohio State University where she earned her undergraduate degree in agribusiness and applied economics. Anderson later continued to earn her master’s degree in agricultural communications. She and her husband, Brian, grow corn, soybeans and wheat, as well as raise poultry for direct-to-consumer products and a small herd of beef cattle. Off the farm, Anderson is the agronomy sales manager for Legacy Farmers Cooperative.

Mike Hannewald of Lucas County is the winner of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals 2022 Discussion Meet competition.

Hannewald developed a strong interest in farming while growing up on the family farm, just outside of Waterville, and became very active in 4-H and FFA. A Lucas County Farm Bureau member, he earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from The Ohio State University. He is an agronomist and precision farming adviser for Beck’s Hybrids, covering northern Ohio and northeastern Indiana and remains actively involved on the family farm. 

Click here for more information.