The Ohio Farm Bureau chapters in Ross and Fayette Counties are among 21 county farm bureaus to be honored with Achievement Awards for outstanding programming over the past year during last week’s 100th annual meeting of the Ohio Farm Bureau.
The Ross County chapter was recognized for its M.A.D.E. on the Farm program, which was held in July with help from the local Drug Free Clubs of America chapter, M.A.D.E. It addressed the local impact of drug addiction as seen by the farming community.
The Fayette County chapter was honored for its Farm to Fork Charity Dinner. That August event worked to raise money for the Rose Avenue Community Center, a ministry outreach in Washington CH dedicated to food, clothing, mentoring and other spiritual resources to the residents of Fayette County.
“Our county Farm Bureaus are the heart of our organization,” said Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp. “Our members know what their communities need and help make good things happen.”
Volunteer Farm Bureau members judged the projects, which represent excellence in local activities that support Ohio Farm Bureau’s strategic efforts.
Also taking place during the Farm Bureau's annual meeting was the selection of four finalists to compete in the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's 2019 Discussion Meet. Chillicothe's Gregory Corcoran and Ashville's Andrew "Dewey" Mann, were among those selected to compete.
The annual contest tests participants’ subject knowledge, problem solving abilities and personal and small group communications skills. These young agricultural professionals will compete in the finals at the Young Agricultural Professionals' Leadership Experience at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus Feb. 1 and 2.
Corcoran, a Ross County Farm Bureau member, is president of the county Farm Bureau and has also served as secretary on the board. He has been the Young Ag Professionals state committee chair and is one of the founders of the Ross County YAP group. Corcoran earned a bachelor’s degree at Ohio State University in construction and systems management. He helps run a 5,000 acre corn, soybean and popcorn operation with his family in addition to 250 head brood cows and a Certified Angus Beef feedlot. In his community, Corcoran also serves on the parish council for St. Peter’s Catholic Church. He and his wife, Theresa, have four children.
Mann, a Pickaway County Farm Bureau member, grew up on his family’s farm and has participated in the county Farm Bureau policy breakfast. He is a lecturer at Ohio State University in ag systems management. Mann is on the Village Chapel Church leadership board, serves as adviser for the ag systems management student organization at Ohio State and is a member of the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers. He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri, his master’s degree at Purdue University and his doctorate at Ohio State. Mann and his wife, Kathy, have two children.
Micaela Wright, of Arcanum, and Victoria Popp, of Cincinnati, were the other two finalists chosen.
The winner receives a $1,000 cash award from Nationwide Insurance, an expense-paid trip to OFBF Annual Meeting including two-nights lodging and invitation to the Harvest Banquet Dec. 11-13, 2019, and an expense-paid trip to represent Ohio at the national competition during the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Austin, Texas, in January 2020.