Four finalists have been named in Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s Discussion Meet. They are Casey Ellington of Louisville, Jacob Hoelscher of Osgood, Seth Middleton of Sidney and Annie Specht of Columbus.

The annual contest challenges participants’ subject knowledge, problem-solving abilities and personal- and small-group communications skills. These young agricultural professionals will compete in the finals at the Young Agricultural Professionals’ Leadership Experience at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus on Feb. 2-3.

The finalists were named after a preliminary competition at Ohio Farm Bureau’s 99th Annual Meeting in Columbus, where they discussed topics impacting the agriculture industry.

“The Discussion Meet contest is a meaningful opportunity for young ag professionals to strengthen their skills in working together to solve issues facing agriculture today. I look forward to watching these finalists compete at the finals in February,” says Melinda Witten, OFBF Young Agricultural Professionals coordinator.

The winner receives a $1,000 cash award from Nationwide Insurance, an expense-paid trip to the 2018 OFBF Annual Meeting held on Dec. 5-7 in Columbus, and an expense-paid trip to the AFBF Annual Convention in January 2019 in New Orleans.

From left to right: Casey Ellington, Jacob Hoelscher, Seth Middleton and Annie Specht.

Ellington, a Stark County Farm Bureau member, is a member of Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER leadership program Class IX and a member of Young Ag Professionals. She is the Stark County Cattlemen’s director and a farm tour and fair volunteer in the county. She and her husband, Charles, farm with their families raising beef, pork, chicken and hay at Ellington Farms and also at Southern Star Farms, a small dairy. Ellington is a graduate of Eastern Brown High School and attended Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute. The Ellingtons have two children.

Hoelscher, a Darke County Farm Bureau member, also serves as a Patterson Township trustee. He and his wife, Ellen, run a small row crop farm, along with 1,500 contract hogs and a farm equipment rental business. Hoelscher is also a farm insurance agent. He is a graduate of Versailles High School and earned a degree in atmospheric science at Ohio State University. The Hoelschers have one son.

Middleton, a Shelby County Farm Bureau board member, serves as treasurer of his county Farm Bureau. His is also involved in AgriPOWER and OFBF’s Young Ag Professionals program. He and his wife, Britnie, run a 500-acre corn and soybean farm. He is also an agribusiness lender at Heartland Bank. Middleton is a graduate of Fairlawn Local Schools and has a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Franklin University. The Middletons have two children.

Specht, a Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau member, is an assistant professor of agricultural communication at Ohio State University. She is a member of the American Association for Agricultural Education, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, and the Association for Communications Excellence. Specht is a graduate of Dover High School. She earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in agricultural and Extension education at Ohio State University. She then completed her doctorate in agricultural leadership, education and communications at Texas A&M University.

The Discussion Meet is hosted by OFBF’s Young Agricultural Professionals — singles and married couples ages 18 to 35 who are interested in improving the business of agriculture, learning new ideas and developing leadership skills. Learn more about the Young Ag Professionals program at experienceyap.com.

Source: OFBF