Leading Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals state committee for 2021 are Chaircouple Megan and Tyrone Brannon of Tuscarawas County, Co-chair Kameron Rinehart of Fayette County and Secretary Bailey Elchinger of Henry County.

Young Ag Professionals are ages 18 to 35, singles and married, who are interested in improving the business of agriculture, learning new ideas and developing leadership skills.

The Brannons are first-generation farmers who raise laying hens, pastured poultry, produce and herbs, and specialize in microgreens. They market directly to consumers or at a local farmers market. Off the farm, Tyrone works for TMK Bakersville, and Megan is a graduate teaching and research assistant at Kent State University. where she teaches undergraduate educational technology and takes part in research projects that advance the field of educational technology. She is a doctoral candidate beginning work on her dissertation this spring.

Rinehart is a graduate research assistant at Ohio State University studying agricultural communication, education and leadership. He has grown up in and around agriculture, including FFA, where he served as a state officer, and 4-H, where he was president of the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council and a member of the Ohio 4-H Foundation board of trustees. He is the vice president of Fayette County Farm Bureau.

Elchinger and her husband, Nick, co-own Elchinger Hay and Straw, as well as Next Generation Ag LLC with Nick’s brother Ben and his wife, Stacy. Elchinger Hay and Straw is a custom large square hay and straw baling business. In addition to baling full time, they also farm row crops and sell precision planting products through Next Generation Ag.

Off the farm, Bailey is a risk management consultant and regional director for StoneX in Bowling Green, where she advises grain and livestock producers — as well as commercial grain elevators — on the commodity futures and options markets.

Young Ag Professionals includes full- and part-time farmers, OSU Extension agents, teachers, consumer educators, former Ohio Farm Bureau Youth members, FFA and 4-H alumni, farm media communicators, livestock and equine enthusiasts, seed representatives, green industry employees, gardeners, foodies and more.

To learn more about the program, visit experienceyap.com.

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