Pitzer Perry graduates from Class XV of Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER program

Rudi Pitzer Perry of New Vienna recently graduated from Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER Class XV. The elite leadership program was started in 2008 to help agricultural advocates gain influence over public policy issues that impact their businesses and communities.

Pitzer Perry’s ties to agriculture are lifelong, from her family running an ag-centered trucking and lime spreading company to working for Farm Credit Mid-America for the past 14 years. She currently serves as the regional vice president of agricultural lending in southern Ohio. In her current role, she leads a team of nine financial officers who work directly with farmer-owners to meet their financial needs.

Class XV graduates also included Amanda Barndt of Bowling Green, Grace Baxter of Wooster, Kelsey Bezdek of Leroy, Johnathon Cottingim of Delaware, Hannah DiVencenzo of Grafton, Zachary Jones of Huron, Olivia Lang of Wooster, Taylor Mensing of Westerville, Lucy Pullins Green of Bowling Green, William Ray of Zanesville, Emily Stevens of Tiffin, Alec Truckor of Metamora and Kelly Warner of Harrod.

Over the course of a year, Class XV participants learned from experts on how to become better leaders and advocates for the agricultural industry, including spokesperson and media training, social networking and communications. They learned about public policy matters important to their local communities, as well as the state, nation and world. The group visited Washington, D.C., where they learned about national and global issues, and they visited diverse agricultural operations in California to better understand the differences and similarities in agriculture from state to state. 

Partnering with Ohio Farm Bureau on AgriPOWER Class XV are the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, Ohio Soybean Council, Certified Angus Beef, The Chef’s Garden, Farm Credit Mid-America, Healthy Harvest Organics, Hummel Group Insurance, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lorain County Farm Bureau, Ohio Forestry Association, Anthony Savage, StoneX Group Inc., Truckor Family Farm, Wood County Farm Bureau and Wright & Moore.

To learn more about AgriPOWER, visit ohiofarmbureau.org/agripower.