OHFB's AgriPOWER program is investing in the next generation of agriculture
The senior director of leadership development at Ohio Farm Bureau says a young farmers program is helping address ag issues.
Marlene Eick says AgriPOWER brings in individuals from different sectors in the ag industry.
"The class members will really spend time on their own personal professional development, so looking at what their leadership traits really are, building out their communication skills and really kind of developing those skills that it takes to be more influential in all of the roles that they serve in," she says.
She tells Brownfield the program offers young people the opportunity to learn more about the policy process.
"They'll really see how our federal government functions," she says. "We'll do the same at the state level and participate in some policy development at the state level and visit elected officials toward the state health meet with officials at the Ohio Department of Agriculture."
AgriPOWER is a program designed specifically for farmers and agribusiness professionals that focuses on public policy issues confronting agriculture and the food industry such as consumer relations, regulations, energy, and trade policies.
Members of this year's AgriPOWER class:
Amanda Barndt of Bowling Green, Grace Baxter of Wooster, Kelsey Brown of Leroy, Johnathon Cottingim of Delaware, Hannah DiVencenzo of Grafton, Zachary Jones of Huron, Olivia Lang of Wooster, Taylor Mensing of Westerville, Rudi Pitzer Perry of New Vienna, Lucy Pullins Green of Bowling Green, William Ray of Zanesville, Emily Stevens of Tiffin, Alec Truckor of Swanton, and Kelly Warner of Harrod.