The Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees will soon be faced with the task of approving a plan of work for the 2013-2014 year. Therefore, in order to continue to serve our members successfully, we need to evaluate the past year.
Please join us as we look over some of the 2012-2013 highlights . . .
Sponsored Family and Community Events
Members enjoyed a Family Fun Day at Fast Lanes Bowling in Barberton; bowling, corn hole tournament, arcade games, and
plenty to eat.
The 5th Annual Farmers’ Share Breakfast served almost 1,000 meals, donating all proceeds and collected canned goods to local food pantries.
The website continues to evolve, adding a humorous story column, Tales From the Back Forty.
A pancake breakfast was served to the 4-H participants and their families on Farm Bureau Day at the Summit County Fair.
SCFB volunteers welcomed visitors to the Farm Bureau Antiques Museum and passed out free bottles of water, during the Summit County Fair.
Some of our members enjoyed an overnight bus trip to the Kentucky Horse Park and a couple of local distilleries.
Members were offered discounted tickets to an Akron Aeros game and the Wild Water Kingdom water park.
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Firestone Metro Park’s Coventry Oak Pavilion on September 26th.
SCFB sponsored a January bowling league for Farm Bureau, 4-H, and Friends.
SCFB “co”-sponsored the annual Nationwide Agent Golf Outing in July.
Developed Educational Opportunities
The American Farm Bureau games Kiosk was enjoyed by visitors at the downtown Akron-Summit Public Library, Hale Farm and Village, the Summit County Fair, the Portage County Fair, and the Stark County Fair.
SCFB financially supported the Ag Mobile’s visits to many county schools and camps.
SCFB went above and beyond and sponsored a record number of educational seminars:
- Cooking at Kuner’s Fruit Farm
- Woodland Stewardship
- Hydraulic Fluid Safety at the Annual BWC Mtg.
- Beekeeping
- Invasive Species
- Hay 101
- Exotic Animals
- Urban Shepherd
- Canning & Freezing
- Cooking with Herbs at Becker’s Herb Farm
- Recipes from the Garden at Graf Growers.
SCFB awarded seven “new” renewable/four year scholarships.
SCFB sent two members to the Ag In The Classroom Conference.
Initiated Internal Improvements
An updated Business Member Directory was mailed out to all members and added to the website.
SCFB continues to update the website and Facebook page.
SCFB ran a successful membership campaign.
The board initiated the annual financial audit by an independent CPA.
Embroidered ball caps were ordered to give as membership campaign prizes and for purchase by the membership.
Gave Back to Our Local Community
Monetary donations were made to Haven of Rest, Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, Akron’s Ronald MacDonald House, Salvation Army, Animals for Life Foundation, Chippewa Trapshooting Youth Club, Arrowhead Nature Zone Endowment Fund, Arrowhead Nature Zone Garden Camp, and Shriner’s Hospital.
SCFB sponsored an ad in the 4-H Equine Program.
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.
Volunteers passed our free bottles of water to all visitors to the Farm Bureau Antique Museum during the Summit County Fair.
Served as Advocates for Our Members
SCFB held a policy and development meeting that sparked two state policies and one national policy for review.
SCFB President, Public Policy Action Team Leader, and Young Farmer went to Columbus for Ag Day at the Capital.
SCFB President and delegates attended the Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.
SCFB President went to Washington D.C. to meet with local representatives.
SCFB board invested $25,000.00 in “Smuckers” stock.
Supported the Summit County Fair and Farm Antique Museum
SCFB purchased the Summit County Fair program/map and assisted in its distribution during the fair.
SCFB funded a professional cleaning of the museum and contents.
Work continued on the videotaping project of museum contents and senior Summit County Farm Bureau members.
A large number of volunteers supervised the museum during the Summit County Fair.
Whew!!! Moving forward . . .