COLLEGE CORNER, Ohio — American Agri-Women (AAW) came to Ohio for their annual convention this year – and it was a rousing success, said Jane Marshall, president of Ohio Agri-Women.

The attendees appreciated the venue at Hueston Woods State Park, the tours and speakers. “I thought it was a great convention,” said Sue McCrum, national president of AAW. “We were celebrating our kickoff for our 40th anniversary celebration in Ohio. We were formed in 1974, and we like to say we are the longest-thriving coalition of women in agriculture that we have in the United States.”

Attendees, which included men as well as women, had the option of visiting places such as Jungle Jim’s International Market, Miller Coors Brewery, Morning Sun – an organic farm – The Andersons’ ethanol plant and more. State Rep. Tim Derickson (R-Oxford) paid the group a visit, and from speakers they learned about everything from blogging to taxes, to organizing one’s office.

Policy is set at the AAW mid-year meeting, McCrum said, and members held discussions and came together on several topics, including supporting genetically modified foods and agreeing to “ditch the rule,” or the U.S. EPA’s and Army Corps of Engineers’ Waters of the U.S. proposal.

“If it is large enough to navigate with a canoe or kayak, then that is fine, but as far as our drainage ditches and that type of things on our farms, leave us alone,” McCrum said. “We’re responsible landowners we know how to take care of it.

“AAW members are from all corners of the United States, and we all have different issues. We come together and discuss those and we can’t always come together with a consensus. We set those issues aside and decide on those issues we can all agree on, such as ‘ditch the rule.’”

Attendees arrived from 22 states. Daily attendance varied; the high was 188 participants, said Marshall, who has been a member since 2004. She co-chaired the convention with Rachael Vonderhaar. Both were delighted the conference went off “without a hitch.” They enjoyed seeing good friends again, and said that is one of the benefits of membership.

“The benefits for me are networking, getting to know agriculture across the country and having a voice in Washington, D.C., through Agri-Women,” Marshall said. “We have incredible ladies from all over the country. To be able to get together and hear good speakers about a variety of topics and learn about the issues in agriculture across this country is just a phenomenal experience.”

Ohio Agri-Women spent the past year planning for the conference and is now in a growing phase, Marshall explained. Right now, the state has only one chapter. Members would like to start more chapters throughout Ohio.

For more on AAW, visit www.american agriwomen.org and for more on the Ohio chapter, go to www.ohioagriwomen.com