Summit County Farm Bureau Year in Review Oct 2011 through Sept 2012

It’s that time of year again… time for the Summit County Farm Bureau’s Board of Trustees to develop a game plan for the 2012-2013 year.

But before we can move forward, we need to look back. Please join us in doing so…

Family and Community Events

Many of our members enjoyed a Family Fun Night at the Falls Natatorium.
The 4^th Annual Farmers’ Share Breakfast moved to a new, larger location.
SCFB held a Legislative Breakfast for members and public officials.
A member’s suggestion led to the development of a “What’s In Season” column, complete with a recipe contest, for the website.
Our board members served breakfast to the 4-H participants & their families during the Summit County Fair.
SCFB volunteers welcomed visitors to the Farm Bureau Antiques Museum during the Summit County Fair.
Ohio Farm Bureau asked us to create a planter for the Ohio State Fair display, thank you Tom Dayton and Dayton Nursery.
Several of our members enjoyed an Overnight Bus Tour to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm and Cabela’s.
This year’s Annual Meeting was held at Ken Stewart’s Lodge in Bath on September 27^th.

Educational Opportunities

The Ag Mobile visited a dozen schools/camps.
The American Farm Bureau games kiosk was enjoyed by visitors at Copley Feed and Supply, The Winery at Wolf Creek, and has spent the summer at the Akron Zoo’s Farmland.
SCFB sponsored a record number of educational seminars:
- Equine Emergency Care
- Barn Fire Safety
- Series of Oil and Gas informational meetings
- Proper Care/Feeding of Poultry
- Maximize Pastures/Feed Dollars
- All About Lawns
- Grape Growing
- Growing Small Fruits in your Backyard
- Canning & Freezing
- What’s Cooking at Boughton’s Farm
- What’s Cooking at Kuner’s Apple Orchard.

Internal Improvements

The monthly Board of Trustees meeting place moved from The Homebuilder’s Association to The Winery at Wolf Creek.
An updated version of the Business Member Directory was mailed to all our members, as well as added to the website.
SCFB continuously updates the website, as well as the Facebook page.
Many members worked diligently on the membership campaign.
The board developed a Summit County Farm Bureau logo and ordered long-sleeve t-shirts for purchase by the membership.

Gave Back to our Local Community

SCFB made monetary donations to Haven of Rest, Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Animals for Life Foundation, and the Chippewa Trapshooting Youth Club.
SCFB sponsored a page in the 4-H Equine Program.
The Summit County Fair program/map was purchased by the SCFB.
SCFB purchased two hogs from the 4-H Livestock Auction and donated the meat to the Haven of Rest and the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.
SCFB contributed to the replacement roof of one of the restroom/showers at the Summit County fairgrounds.
Free bottles of water were offered to all visitors to the Farm Bureau Antiques Museum during the Summit County Fair.

Served as Advocates for Our Membership

Our President, Public Policy Action Team Leader, and Young Farmer went to Columbus for Ag Day at the Capital.
Our President and three delegates went to the Ohio Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Columbus.
Our President went to Washington D.C. to meet with local representatives.
Our Vice-President went to American Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Hawaii.
SCFB sent a “young farmer” to the conference in Washington D. C.
SCFB members submitted suggestions that led to the development of local, state, and national policies.

SCFB funded a professional cleaning of the museum and contents.
An improvement of the surrounding landscaping at the museum was completed just in time for the Summit County Fair.
A complete replacement of the roof on the museum was done.
SCFB greatly appreciated the 80+ volunteers that helped supervise the museum during the Summit County Fair.

Now, it is time to move forward into another productive year!