BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio – They gathered around the table and over pizza, discussed Butler Farm Bureau policy concerns. It was the first of several Butler County policy meetings. They may not all have pizza, but farm bureau members in counties around the state are going through the same process.

“Tonight. we are reviewing policies, writing new policy, and filling in some information on some past policy that we are going to take back to the state,” said Tim Hesselbrock, director of public policy in Butler County.

Eventually, Butler Farm Bureau members will establish their policy concerns, which will be voted on at the county’s annual meeting in September. Those that are approved will be sent to the state to be discussed and voted on.

Hesselbrock and the group talked about the need for country of origin labeling, and inspection by USDA inspectors, or at least someone from this country, of food shipped here from other countries. He said there are concerns about lab-created meat and other foods,

“I have even seen videos of them using printers to make 3D steaks,” he said. “It makes a steak of whatever size you would buy. The biggest problem is you don’t know what is in it. Some states like Florida and Arkansas have banned it.”

The meeting evolved into a discussion of problems that those in attendance were aware of. Larry Johnson, a beekeeper, said he lost 40 percent of his hives over the winter, and that bees were still in trouble. He also mentioned the need for more bee inspectors as the number of beekeepers has increased dramatically.

Other members brought up topics including the need to maintain roundabouts, a petition to abolish property tax, and concerns about possible changes to the Emergency Management Agency.

Across the state counties are talking about the issues pertinent to them. That is what they have done since farm bureau’s start in 1919, said Evan Callicoat, Ohio Farm Bureau’s director of state policy.

“They will decide what matters most to their county in current issues and they are also able to open our policy book,” Callicoat said. “If there is a policy that has already been passed that they would like to edit based on other variables (they can do that). So, it is not just new policies but also updating policies that we already have.”

Once the counties have officially voted on those policies as their submission, that is sent to the state policy development committee, Callicoat said. That committee is made up of members of the state board and of county or local board members. They go through all the policies that are submitted and decide what will be brought to the floor at the annual state meeting in December.

If a county’s policy does not make it into the slate, that county can resubmit and it will be discussed on the floor at the annual meeting. Throughout that meeting any delegate may submit a policy, as long as it is signed by their county president, to discuss on the floor.

“So. it is a true grassroots process,” Callicoat said. “The discussion can get lively at the annual meeting. A couple of years ago we debated raccoon policy for 45 minutes. I did not expect that. We appreciate that our members get to have a healthy discussion about whatever they would like to.”

Delegates will debate both state and national policies. National policies will be sent to the American Farm Bureau for debate at their January meeting. The policies that are adopted at both the state and federal levels are put into the respective policy books.

“That is how we take positions on every piece of legislation. If it is not in the book, we will very seldom take a position, if at all. We are proud of our true grassroots process.”