The American Farm Bureau Federation County Activities of Excellence awards celebrate unique, local, volunteer-driven programs that serve as models of innovation for local program development.
The winning counties, including 11 from Ohio, receive a grant to fund participation in the Farm Bureau CAE Showcase at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention & Trade Show Jan. 19-24, in Salt Lake City. AFBF received 151 entries across all membership categories, with only 24 activities nationwide being selected to present at the convention.
“Ohio having more CAE winners than any other state is becoming a regular occurrence,” said Melinda Witten, Ohio Farm Bureau senior director, leadership development. “Our members take great pride in their communities, and these awards are truly a testament to the hard work Ohio Farm Bureau staff and volunteers put into county programs across the state.”
Ohio’s winners:
Adams County: Farm Bureau Day at the Fair
Adams County Farm Bureau partnered with the local hospital and OSU Extension to provide no cost health care screenings and breakfast to current members. In addition, Farm Bureau and Soil & Water Conservation District offer kids games including watermelon eating contests, seed spitting, pedal tractor pulls, and the popular frog jumping contest. Adults enjoy tractor games which include a series of skill exhibitions including timed wagon backing, tractor basketball, and slow racing. To support the Junior Fair, Farm Bureau distributed gift certificates to the 4-H Food Booth for every junior exhibitor as well as supported the junior fair sales.
Auglaize, Logan, Mercer and Shelby Counties: Local Agriculture Activity Book
The Agriculture Activity Book is a one-of-a-kind children’s coloring and lesson book that features farmers from four neighboring counties and the commodities they grow, as well as age-appropriate activities and games for kids. These activities are all themed after that farmer’s commodities and how consumers use them. The book was distributed to over 3,500 students in a four-county area and was used as an agriculture education tool in many classrooms. The book provided counties a way to promote, educate and engage with the community’s young people about agriculture and their food.
Source: ofbf.org
Photo Credit: getty-images-elhenyo
Categories: Ohio, Business