Each year, the Summit County Farm Bureau (SCFB) Board of Trustees plan and implement projects and events that help share the story of agriculture.
Whether it’s the Farm Antiques Museum at the Summit County fairgrounds, the Agriculture Kiosk at the Akron Zoo, the Agricultural Mobile Learning Lab that visits grade schools throughout the county, or the Farmer’s Share Breakfast that honors the many farmers who provide safe, abundant and affordable food, SCFB volunteers work diligently to share their love of agriculture.
Last July, Summit’s Plow to Chow, an exquisite outdoor dining experience benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Akron, was able to raise awareness of agriculture to non-farming individuals by connecting the diners to the origins of their food. It was this project that garnered recognition not only from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, but from the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, as well.
The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting was held December 10th – 12th, 2014 in Columbus. At that time, Peter Schanz, former Summit County Farm Bureau president, was presented a bronze medal and $2,000.00 monetary award for the county’s Plow to Chow program.
San Diego, California was the setting for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting, January 9th-14th, 2015. SCFB was one of three “Our Food Link” grant recipients selected to receive a $700.00 award and one complementary conference registration for the FUSION Conference to be held in Nashville, February 13th-16th.
SCFB board member, Carol Bessemer, will play an active role in leading table discussions to provide insight and tips on the success of Summit’s Plow to Chow during the FUSION Conference.
While the Plow to Chow steering committee is honored and humbled by the recognition, they wish to remind everyone that it is the 40 plus volunteers that worked throughout the evening, as well as all the generous donors, that deserve the credit for the success of this event.