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Ohio AgriPOWER seeking leaders

By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Many in farming feel the need for leaders and advocates for agriculture. Mindful of this, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) has launched a program designed for farmers and agribusiness professionals called AgriPOWER.

“Our goal is to train people to be future leaders in agriculture,” said Sandy Kuhn, Director of Commodity Relations and AgriPOWER program manager at Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “This is a leadership development and public policy advocacy program.”

This yearlong program targets part-time and full-time farmers and focuses on public policy issues confronting agriculture and the food industry such as animal activists, climate change and trade policies. It is designed to help individuals develop skills necessary to become effective leaders and advocates for agriculture by learning from experts in the fields.

“This program has different components, such as a leadership component, spokesperson training component, as well as public policy matters facing local communities, the state of Ohio and the nation,” Kuhn said. “It teaches those how to be ambassadors of agriculture.”

The program also includes a planned trip to Washington, D.C. where participants will engage with government officials, activists, media insiders and farm leaders on pressing local, state and national issues. Among the topics are government structure and spending, regulations, the environment, animal welfare, international trade and public relations.

There are seven sessions with this program. The first gathering in July is a get acquainted period when attendees get better familiar with Farm Bureau. In August, the group will study the media and learn communication techniques. In September, the group will meet in Columbus with a study of state government, while in December will focus on proceedings at the local level. In January, the group will head to Washington D.C. for a three-day study of national and international issues. In February, the group will study activists and advocacy, divergent views, attacks on agriculture and food and more. In March, the class will undertake a service project, learn more about business structures and leadership commitment skills.
“Ohio Farm Bureau is committed to the success of AgriPOWER, and believes that there has never been a more important time for people to stand up for agriculture and tell their story,” Kuhn said.
This is the third year for the AgriPOWER class. Each year, the class consists of 20 participants with a cost of $4,000 to participate.

“Participants often receive scholarship money from their local state Farm Bureau or commodity sponsors chip in,” Kuhn said.
For more information about AgriPOWER, contact Kuhn at 614-246-8249 or visit www.tinyurl.com/agripower

6/2/2010