By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER Ohio Correspondent COLUMBUS, Ohio — State representatives Tim Derickson (R-Oxford) and John Domenick (D-Smithfield) have joined together to introduce Ohio House Bill 321, bipartisan legislation that will designate the week of Thanksgiving as Ohio Agriculture Week.
“Agriculture is the number-one industry in Ohio,” Derickson said. “The aim of this legislation is to recognize the Ohioans who provide affordable and nutritious food choices for Ohio and the whole country.”
Two things motivated him to sponsor the bill. As a Butler County dairy farmer for many years, he is always looking for ways to help the agriculture community. Then, this spring, he talked with Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, who had put up billboards promoting safety on the roads for farmers and farm equipment.
“I asked him about these billboards,” Derickson said. “It was something he wanted to do. He recognizes the importance of agriculture.”
Jones suggested Derickson think about designating a Farm Day. “I started thinking about a Farm Day, and Farm Day turned into Farm Week, and then I talked to Chris Henney from Farm Bureau who suggested we needed it to be a little more broad and inclusive,” Derickson said. “We went from a Farm Day to Agriculture Week.”
Derickson appreciates that the industry employs one in seven working Ohioans while generating $93 billion in revenue. There is no money allocated for Ohio Agriculture Week in the budget; hence, it has total support from both parties and a nonpartisan group of more than 30 cosponsors, Derickson said.
Yet, it didn’t take effect this year – there just wasn’t enough time. The bill passed the House State Government Committee Nov. 18 with unanimous bipartisan support. It was to be sent to the full House for a possible vote as early as this past Monday, according to latest information at press time. If passed, it still has to go to the state Senate.
“There is a lot of support,” Derickson said. “It gives groups involved with agriculture a time to say ‘Here’s when we can promote ourselves and our industry.’
“Just coming off of Issue 2, we all know the impact that agriculture makes. It is not just the farms, it is manufacturers of biobased products, milk haulers, scientists and grocers selling the products, the farmers’ markets that are directly or indirectly involved with agriculture. It allows all of these industries that fall under the umbrella of agriculture to pick a time to promote themselves.” Even for those not involved with agriculture, Thanksgiving is a time when everyone appreciates their blessings, he said.
“As we give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday, we are grateful for the commitment the agricultural community has made to our state and our nation by providing the most basic human need of all,” he said.
The Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Cattlemen’s Assoc., Ohio Wheat Growers Assoc., Ohio Corn Growers Assoc., Ohio Poultry Assoc., Ohio Dairy Producers Assoc., Ohio Pork Producers Council and the Ohio Soybean Council have expressed approval for this legislation. |