Hundreds attend 'Agriculture is Everyone's Business'

Hundreds of area farmers and agriculture-related industry professionals attended the first-ever agriculture-related event – "Agriculture is Everyone's Business" – hosted by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce Friday, Jan. 18 at the Southern State Community College Patriot Center.

Chamber of Commerce President Melissa Elmore served as the event's emcee. Featured speakers included: Orion Samuelson of RFD-TV and WGN Radio in Chicago; Ohio Director of Agriculture and former Highland County Commissioner David Daniels; Dr. Kevin Boys, president of Southern State Community College and a board member of the Chamber of Commerce; and Carley Snider, the Ohio District 9 FFA president from Felicity-Franklin High School in Clermont County.

Samuelson, who was born on a dairy farm near La Crosse, Wis., has been heard over WGN Radio in Chicago since 1960, providing the Midwest farmer with agricultural news and information. Samuelson is heard over a syndicate of 260 stations airing his National Farm Report daily. Since 1975, he has produced and hosted U.S. Farm Report, a weekly television program seen on 190 Midwest stations.

Samuelson has received the American Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service Award in 1998; the National 4-H Alumni Award; and he is the only broadcaster in the nation to receive two Oscars in agriculture – one each for radio and television. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.

"If you eat, you are involved in agriculture," Samuelson told the Patriot Center crowd.

Samuelson also said, "Family farming is alive and well, but it is far different than what we used to know. It might be a corporate farm, but it is not a 'factory farm.'"

Daniels, who was appointed Ohio Director of Agriculture by Gov. Kasich, and also served in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives, reminded the audience that farming is the No. 1 industry in Ohio.

"This is the leading industry in Ohio and it always will be," Daniels said, "20 years from now or 100 years from now."

Daniels said there is $105 billion worth of economic activity related to the food and agricultural industry in Ohio each year.

"Agriculture is the foundation of Ohio's economy," he said. "I don't think anyone today has any idea of how many people farmers impact each day."

Daniels also thanked the Chamber of Commerce, saying, "I don't know of another Chamber of Commerce that has an event like this in Ohio."

Carley Snider talked about this year's FFA theme "grow," and the impact that local FFA chapter members have on the industry. (National FFA Week is Feb. 16-23, 2013.)

"FFA members are growing the agriculture industry," Snider said. "FFA members are promoting agriculture with every opportunity they have. Local agriculture is the backbone of our industry."

In her opening remarks, Elmore thanked the Highland County Cattlemen's Association for sponsoring the steak and eggs breakfast, as well as event sponsors: Tom Pitzer Trucking, Crop Production Services, Carraher Agriculture, Rick Williams Auction Company, Five Points Implement Company, Susan Davis, Attorney, and Preferred Midwest Title, Steve Thompson Funeral Homes, NCB, Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio Asphaltic Limestone Corporation, Merchants National Bank, The Equipment Store, Master Feed Mill of Hillsboro, Inc., South Central Power Co., Zimmerman Brothers, Grange Insurance/Hamilton Insurance, Lerch's Barnlot Equipment, Ltd., Southern Hills Community Bank, Union Stockyards, Ervin Hill Sand and Gravel/Mark Edenfield Farm Fuel, and Southern State Community College.

Elmore also thanked Jeff Parry of Five Points Implement; Susan Davis, Attorney, and Preferred Midwest Title, and Steve Thompson Funeral Homes, for their donations of two toy tractors to be auctioned off at the event.

According to Rick Williams, former Highland County Chamber President Katy Farber had discussed the concept of an agricultural forum with him following a Hillsboro Rotary Club meeting.

"Katy had mentioned to me that she wanted to do something a little different (as a Chamber fundraiser)," Williams said. "She had Orion (Samuelson) scheduled, and we came up with the idea to have him sign two donated pedal tractors for the auction."

Those tractors include a reproduction John Deere 720, donated by Jeff Parry of Five Points Implement Co.; and a reproduction Super M McCormick Farmall, donated from Steve Thompson's collection.

The Farmall is sign by Joseph Ertl, founder of Scale Model Toys in Dyersville, Iowa.

"This was our first-ever agriculture-related event," Elmore said.

"It's been two years in the making. We felt like we really need to embrace our agriculture community. In terms of the number of farms, Highland County is fourth in the state of Ohio."

Samuelson also said, "Family farming is alive and well, but it is far different than what we used to know. It might be a corporate farm, but it is not a 'factory farm.'"

Daniels, who was appointed Ohio Director of Agriculture by Gov. Kasich, and also served in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives, reminded the audience that farming is the No. 1 industry in Ohio.

"This is the leading industry in Ohio and it always will be," Daniels said, "20 years from now or 100 years from now."

Daniels said there is $105 billion worth of economic activity related to the food and agricultural industry in Ohio each year.

"Agriculture is the foundation of Ohio's economy," he said. "I don't think anyone today has any idea of how many people farmers impact each day."

Daniels also thanked the Chamber of Commerce, saying, "I don't know of another Chamber of Commerce that has an event like this in Ohio."

Carley Snider talked about this year's FFA theme "grow," and the impact that local FFA chapter members have on the industry. (National FFA Week is Feb. 16-23, 2013.)

"FFA members are growing the agriculture industry," Snider said. "FFA members are promoting agriculture with every opportunity they have. Local agriculture is the backbone of our industry."

In her opening remarks, Elmore thanked the Highland County Cattlemen's Association for sponsoring the steak and eggs breakfast, as well as event sponsors: Tom Pitzer Trucking, Crop Production Services, Carraher Agriculture, Rick Williams Auction Company, Five Points Implement Company, Susan Davis, Attorney, and Preferred Midwest Title, Steve Thompson Funeral Homes, NCB, Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio Asphaltic Limestone Corporation, Merchants National Bank, The Equipment Store, Master Feed Mill of Hillsboro, Inc., South Central Power Co., Zimmerman Brothers, Grange Insurance/Hamilton Insurance, Lerch's Barnlot Equipment, Ltd., Southern Hills Community Bank, Union Stockyards, Ervin Hill Sand and Gravel/Mark Edenfield Farm Fuel, and Southern State Community College.

Elmore also thanked Jeff Parry of Five Points Implement; Susan Davis, Attorney, and Preferred Midwest Title, and Steve Thompson Funeral Homes, for their donations of two toy tractors to be auctioned off at the event.

According to Rick Williams, former Highland County Chamber President Katy Farber had discussed the concept of an agricultural forum with him following a Hillsboro Rotary Club meeting.

"Katy had mentioned to me that she wanted to do something a little different (as a Chamber fundraiser)," Williams said. "She had Orion (Samuelson) scheduled, and we came up with the idea to have him sign two donated pedal tractors for the auction."

Those tractors include a reproduction John Deere 720, donated by Jeff Parry of Five Points Implement Co.; and a reproduction Super M McCormick Farmall, donated from Steve Thompson's collection.

The Farmall is sign by Joseph Ertl, founder of Scale Model Toys in Dyersville, Iowa.

"This was our first-ever agriculture-related event," Elmore said.

"It's been two years in the making. We felt like we really need to embrace our agriculture community. In terms of the number of farms, Highland County is fourth in the state of Ohio."