About
Rooted in Agriculture. Committed to Community.
The Summit County Farm Bureau has proudly served the local agricultural community since 1921. From family farms and agribusinesses to backyard growers and advocates, our members represent the full spectrum of agriculture in a county where rural and urban life meet.
We exist to represent, promote, and protect the business and lifestyle of farming—right here in Summit County. Whether it’s connecting members with resources, hosting educational events, or advocating for policy that supports agriculture, we are committed to helping farmers and consumers move forward together.
Our Mission
“To promote agriculture through education and involvement, serving as the voice of agriculture in Summit County thus improving the viability of agriculture in an urban county.”
We believe that agriculture matters to everyone—because everyone eats. Through programs, partnerships, and outreach, we work to build awareness and support for local food systems, farming families, and sustainable practices.
Our Story
The Summit County Farm Bureau was granted exempt status with respect to Federal income taxes in 1931, but wasn’t legally recognized as a not-for-profit corporation until March 3, 1946. At that time, the organization was officially incorporated in Summit County, Ohio as “Summit County Farm Bureau, Inc.”
This corporation was formed for the following purposes:
“To engage, on a non-profit basis, in any activity in connection with the organization, development and maintenance of a membership organization which shall aid and assist in the betterment of the conditions and welfare of those engaged in agriculture and horticulture, or either of them, the improvement of the grade of their products, and development of a higher degree of efficiency, science and knowledge by them.”
Legacy of Leadership
The original office for the Summit County Farm Bureau was housed in the Farm Bureau Co-op Store located at 20 East Broad Street in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Long-time board member Dean Hartong (Dean was elected to the Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees in the early 1950s and remained an active member for approximately 50 years!) recalls attending his first board meeting at this location. He also notes that although the co-op served many different types of customers, horse owners were particularly prevalent, and he helped serve these customers by bringing straw to sell at the feed store.
Incidentally, the first Board of Trustees included 12 people – just like the current Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees.
The Summit County Farm Bureau continued to call the Cuyahoga Falls location home for many years. Then, the board was offered rent-free meeting space in the Nationwide building in Fairlawn, Ohio. Unfortunately, the Nationwide building was eventually closed down, which prompted the SCFB Board to move its meetings to the Home Builder’s Association building on White Pond Drive (Akron, Ohio) through January 2012, at which time Andy Troutman graciously offered his Great Room at The Winery at Wolf Creek (rent free). When an explosion on May 30th, 2017 totally destroyed The Winery at Wolf Creek’s Great Room and Distillery, Tom Dayton offered his Owl Barn at Dayton Nurseries (rent free) to the Summit County Farm Bureau board – where we met for a number of years. With the closing of Dayton Nurseries, we find ourselves back at The Winery at Wolf Creek, thanks to the generosity of the Troutmans.
Part of the Ohio Farm Bureau
The Summit County Farm Bureau is a local affiliate of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation—a statewide organization dedicated to forging connections between farmers and consumers, advocating for sound public policy, and promoting the future of Ohio agriculture.
Through our partnership with Ohio Farm Bureau, our members have access to a wide range of benefits, advocacy tools, and statewide programs that support agriculture in meaningful ways. Learn more at ofbf.org
Meet Our Team
Our work is supported by a dedicated local staff:
Lindsay Tournoux
Organization Director
Lindsay helps coordinate programs, membership, events, and outreach for Summit County.
Jennifer Fatheree
County Office Administrator
Jen is the Wooster office’s front line for helping members, bookkeeping and special projects.