COLUMBIANA, Ohio – Mahoning County Farm Bureau celebrated another successful program year, earning state recognition of individual program activities in all possible categories.
Each committee’s volunteer leaders earned standard of achievement awards, or star awards, from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
Committee chairman earning the awards included: MaryAnn Gasper and Tim Hum, advisory councils/young farmers; Sharen O’Brock, information; Clark Myers, marketing; Mary Kay Shotts, membership; Kim Moff, promotion and education; Duane Moff and the late Darrel Bacon, public affairs; Cindy Kingston, safety; and Jenifer Weaver, youth.
Retiring president Marjorie Yerman received a Golden Tractor award for the county’s membership gain.
Young farmer award. Jim and Mary Moore of Green Township received the county Farm Bureau’s Young Farm Couple Award and will be competing in the statewide competition.
The Moores are the fifth generation on the family’s grain and beef farm. The Moore family also operates a retail butcher shop on the farm, selling their own farm’s beef and locally grown pork. Mary Moore also works off the farm at Salem Community Hospital.
The county Farm Bureau also recognized Steve Shurtleff, who represented Mahoning County in the semi-finals of the statewide discussion meet.
Youth awards. Stephanie Riehl and Clay Myers received the Outstanding Junior Fair Farm Bureau Youth Award. Riehl is the daughter of Chris and Jay Riehl of Beaver Township and Clay is the son of Brenda and Clark Myers of Ellsworth Township.
Both are active in the Farm Bureau youth and served on the Canfield Fair junior fair board.
Libby Yocum and Jay Stanwood each received a $300 Alan J. Withers Leadership Scholarship, presented in honor of the late Alan Withers. Yocum, the daughter of Rod and Patti Yocum of Beaver Township, is a student at Ohio State University. Stanwood, the son of Jay and Margie Stanwood of Beaver Township, is attending DeVry Institute of Technology in Columbus.
Stay informed. State Farm Bureau trustee Jeff Zellers, who was in Washington D.C. earlier in the week to meet with legislators regarding the Farm Bill, gave a brief update on the Farm Bill. The House was considering amendments and provisions late last week, before voting the Farm Security Act of 2001 out of the House.
“Stay tuned and be aware,” Zellers told the Farm Bureau members. “It affects all of our livelihoods.”
The Stark County grower urged the local members to take advantage of the policy development process Farm Bureau has in place.
The state board, Zellers said, looks to the policies approved by state delegates to guide priorities and efforts. “If you don’t make the grassroots effort, frankly, don’t expect a lot of change.”
Board reorganization. Tom Koch was installed as the farm organization’s newest president.
In the election for the county board, Marjorie Yerman was re-elected, as was Lola Ann Kurtz, current board secretary.
Incoming committee chairmen include: Tim Hum, advisory councils/young farmers; Marjorie Yerman, agricultural ecology; Ralph Wince, farm income and risk management; Duane Moff, government affairs; Sharen O’Brock, information; Mary Kay Shotts, membership; James Olds, membership; Kim Moff, promotion and education; Cindy Kingston, safety; and Jenifer Weaver, youth activities.
Delegates elected to the 2002 statewide annual meeting were Marjorie Yerman, Ralph Wince, David Kenreich and Duane Moff.
