COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twenty-three agricultural leaders and advocates from around Ohio recently graduated from Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER Institute Class IX. Started in 2008, AgriPOWER was created to help farmers and agricultural professionals gain influence over public policy issues that impact their businesses and communities.
Class IX graduates are John Arnold, Jr. of Springboro; JD Bethel of Mechanicsburg; Steve Brunner of Stockdale; Jess Campbell of Waynesville; Philip Cobb of Helena; Kristen Dickey of Napoleon; Casey Ellington of Louisville; Candace Lease of Apple Creek; Melinda Lee of Tipp City; Megan Lezzer of Wooster; Kirsten Marihugh of Columbus; Brenda Mescher of Maria Stein; Jackie Mosier of Haviland; Marissa Mulligan of Groveport; Jonah Neill of Waterford; Brittany Nemeth of Wellington; Brian Palmer of Dresden; Craig Pohlman of Venedocia; Eric Reed of Dresden; Stephanie Rucinski of Columbus; Stacey Sark of Orient, Terri Specht of Johnstown and Micaela Wright of Arcanum.
During the yearlong leadership training program, AgriPOWER participants developed key skills to help them become better leaders and advocates for the agricultural industry, including spokesperson and media training, etiquette training, social networking and communications. Two of the sessions took place in Washington and Florida.
In addition to Ohio Farm Bureau, AgriPOWER partners include Bayer Crop Science, Champaign Premium Grain Growers, Farm Credit Mid-America, Heritage Cooperative, Mid-Ohio Development Exchange, Nationwide Insurance, Ohio Beef Council, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, Ohio Pork Council, Pickaway Progress Partnership, Redline Equipment, Rider Landing, Ron Spencer Real Estate, Stark County Cattlemen’s Association, Southern Ohio Agricultural & Community Development Foundation, Wyatt Insurance and Farm Bureaus in Franklin, Mercer, Muskingum, Pickaway, Stark and Warren counties.
Applications are now being accepted for AgriPOWER Class X. Deadline to apply is April 20. To apply and learn more about Ohio Farm Bureau’s elite training program, visit ofbf.org/agripower.
— Ohio Farm Bureau Federation