COLUMBUS, Ohio – The recent Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s 107th annual meeting went well, said Adam Sharp, executive vice president of the organization. The debate and discussion to set next year’s policy agenda was completed by 341 delegates representing Ohio’s 88 counties.

Farm bureau honored three individuals and groups for their contributions to agriculture and Ohio Farm Bureau. The 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipients were Craig Adams, of Highland County; Mike Townsley, of Franklin County; and the families who have hosted the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms: Kellogg Farms, of Hardin County, Kurt Farms, of Hardin County, and Stateler Family Farms, of Hancock County.

Blanchard River Demonstration Farms was a 10-year project between Ohio Farm Bureau and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Through the program, three farm families implemented new and innovative conservation practices on their farms. These trials generated strong interest, and the farms hosted numerous tours for students, researchers, media and policymakers interested in Ohio’s forward-thinking efforts in water quality.

“We honored those three families for 10 years of letting literally thousands of people tramp across their farms – media, politicians, state and local, federal, thousands of farmers and farm business folks, environmental conservation group people, city and municipality people,” Sharp said.

“Although that project technically is wrapping up, all three families have said they are going to keep going,” Sharp said. “They will continue to bring people out and keep on with the show. I am sure we will take them up on it.”

Farm bureau also recognized two members with the Advocacy in Action Award. This accolade is given to those who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to agricultural advocacy. Recipients, nominated by their peers, embody the spirit of leadership, initiative and commitment to advancing agriculture in Ohio.

The winners of the 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau Advocacy in Action Award were Dr. Sarah Ison, of Clermont County, and Tim Hesselbrock, of Butler County.

After the awards were presented, it was down to business for the delegates. They discussed many topics impacting agriculture, including farmland preservation, local foods and succession planning.

“I would say protecting farmland was kind of the theme throughout,” said Jack Irvin, the farm bureau’s vice president of public policy. “You’re looking at economic pressures on farmland, property taxes, development pressure – making sure there is plenty of local control in terms of selling and maintaining that ability and authority, trying to preserve our agricultural heritage.”

The delegates spent significant time discussing property taxes, landing on policy that strongly supports the reform of the property tax system, along with addressing the inflationary pressure, while recognizing the importance of the current agricultural use valuation, or CAUV, to preserving farmland.

The organization voted to oppose the outright elimination of property taxes due to concerns about the unknowns and the potential to increase agriculture’s overall tax burden, the impact on rural communities, and the loss of local control.

New policy also included discussions of land use and zoning, with support for more direct citizen involvement in zoning changes and maintaining local control of zoning of short-term rentals. Delegates proposed national policy that supports the labeling of media generated through artificial intelligence and supports new uses of agricultural products.

“The delegates representing their county farm bureaus understand how important their job is at this meeting, to set the advocacy positions of the state’s largest general farm organization,” Irvin said.