The Future State of Agriculture

Join us on March 16 at Wilmington College for the 4th annual Farm Seminar event! We are incredibly excited to announce that this year we will focus on the Future State of Agriculture. This event will go in depth to discuss not only Ohio’s Agriculture, but agriculture nationwide. We will hear many unique perspectives from leading industry experts. Not only will you have the opportunity to hear these speakers discuss their perspectives, but at the end of the evening, there will also be time allotted for a round table question and answer dialogue with them. Here is a brief synopsis of the speakers we have lined up.

Fred Yoder, Ohio Farmer and Member of President Trump’s Ag Committee

In October, Fred Yoder was tapped to be a member of President Trump’s agriculture committee. This committee is made up of individuals throughout the United States who will help form the administration’s agriculture policies. Yoder will be able to share his perspective on the Farm Bill, food safety, falling commodity prices, agriculture regulation and many other important issues facing agriculture in our nation.

Yoder resides in Plain City, Ohio. For over 40 years he has farmed corn and soybeans. In addition to his farm, he operates a retail farm seed business. Yoder has served on several state and national boards becoming a state and national leader in the agriculture industry. He is currently the President of North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance. He served the Ohio Corn Growers Association Board for 18 years, served as the President of the National Corn Growers Association and lends his expertise to the organization still today. Additionally, Yoder uses his voice to be an advocate for the ag industry and has even testified before congress.

Ken Davis, Farmer and Nationwide Board Member

Ken Davis will be present as a representative from the Nationwide board. Ken has served on the board since 1999. In addition to serving on the Nationwide board, Davis farms 2,300 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa and raises beef cattle. He also is involved in the industry by being a member of the Ohio Corn Growers Association and Ohio Cattlemen’s Association. He is chairman of the South Central Power Company. He was also appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the National Cattlemen’s Beef board. Bob Taft and Ted Strickland appointed him to the Southern Ohio Agriculture and Community Development Foundation. He is also the past president of the Ohio Farm Bureau.

All of that being said, he will be able to give us a great perspective from both the farm side of his life as well as bring in a business perspective as to what Nationwide is seeing. As the number one farm insurer in the country, they will feel the impact of changes in agriculture as much as most farmers do.

Adam Sharp, Executive Director of Ohio Farm Bureau

Adam Sharp is the Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Director and has been serving in this position since July of 2016. Sharp has been with the Ohio Farm Bureau since 2004 and has served in several different roles including Vice President of Public Policy. Before moving back to Ohio to take his first role with OFBF, he worked in D.C. for the American Farm Bureau Federation and the EPA. Sharp grew up on his family’s farm in Amanda, Ohio which him and his brothers now own and operate. Sharp will be present to discuss the direction and future of Ohio Farm Bureau and where they see Ohio agriculture heading..

David T. Daniels, Ohio Director of Agriculture

David T. Daniels was appointed by Governor John Kasich in 2012 to serve Ohio as Director of Agriculture. He is from Greenfield, Ohio. Director Daniels has experience in family farming, as a small businessman and a local government official. Director Daniels has fought for farmers in many capacities over his lifetime and across Ohio for the last 6 years against unnecessary regulations and to create business opportunities. Director Daniels will be present to discuss the future of Ohio’s agriculture and the direction ODA is taking.

Tara Durbin, Farm Credit- Mid America Senior Vice President

Tara Durbin is a Senior Vice President for Financial Services with Farm Credit Mid America’s financial services. She is based out of Utica, Ohio. Durbin is a graduate from Wilmington College. She will be present to discuss the opportunities and future of Farm Credit as well as help us understand what they are seeing in agriculture lending right now. Lending is such an important part of a farm operation, we felt this perspective would be beneficial for those in attendance.

John Mayer, Ohio State Medical Associates President

John Mayer is President of Ohio State Medical Association. They have recently partnered with Ohio Farm Bureau and Paul Hall & Associates to bring farmers and agribusinesses throughout Ohio another health care option. Health care has gotten incredibly difficult to understand, and this option allows our ag customers to really have a good alternative to the exchange. John and his staff member, James, will be present to discuss this opportunity for farmers and small business owners.

If you would like to RSVP for this event, please email us at info@paulhallinsurance.com or you can RSVP for your FREE tickets HERE.

We look forward to seeing you there!