Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast

One of Columbus’ great attractions is its Center of Science and Industry, which most of us know as COSI. COSI, is rated as one of the nation’s top science museums. The first of this year, it welcomed a new leader. Dr. Frederic Bertley is a nationally known scientist, educator, and maybe most importantly, communicator. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, he joins Farm Bureau’s executive vice preside...

In Ohio, the Republican Party holds most of the cards, dominating statewide elected offices, the general assembly and the Ohio Supreme Court. Keeping the party ticking along is the job of Jane Timken, who took over as state party chair this past January. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, she and Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president Adam Sharp will chat about politics and policy, and hopefull...

There’s a lot of things good about being an Ohioan. But, a new report from the Health Policy Institute from Ohio suggests things aren’t as good as they could be when it comes to health value. Ohio ranks 46th in the nation, meaning we spend more but are less healthy than all but 3 other states. Amy Rohling McGee of the Health Policy Institute and Dan Rapp of Ohio Farm Bureau are in today to talk ab...

The food production, manufacturing, retailing and consumption space is undergoing monumental change. Noted food expert and futurist Dr. David Hughes joins Town Hall Ohio to help us wrap our arms around what we put on our forks.

There are more than 380,000 Ohio homes and businesses throughout Ohio which get their electricity from one of 25 rural electric cooperatives. The organization representing those co-ops is engaged in a wide range of energy and community development activities. Its president and CEO, Patrick O’Loughlin is with us on this episode of Town Hall Ohio, and joins Farm Bureau’s energy specialist Dale Arnol...

Have you been in a convenience store lately, or a McDonalds, or bought some fresh donuts, a piece of jewelry or a set of tires? These diverse businesses have at least one thing in common--they are affiliated with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants. The group's president and CEO Gordon Gough joins Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp to talk about the economy, government and other...

House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman talk health care, immigration and other issues with Ohio's county Farm Bureau presidents during their recent visit to Washington, D.C.

Ohio is blessed with a great highway system. Building it, and keeping it maintained, requires pouring concrete and laying asphalt. But we’re not too far away from when improving those roads will include laying digital cable and placing electronic sensors. The Ohio Department of Transportation is embarking on what they call a smart mobility initiative - gearing up for driverless cars and all the ot...

Today, many Americans shop for a good deal, but not necessarily for themselves. They want a good deal for workers, the environment and other factors. There are lots of names, but for today we’ll call them socially conscious consumers. Who are they and what implications might there be for farmers, businesses and the rest of the consuming public? We’ll discuss all of these on this episode of Town Ha...

One of America’s greatest assets is its ability to produce abundant, affordable, safe food. One of our greatest shortcomings is that we waste about 40 percent of the food we produce. That’s 34 million tons of food, every year. Waste affects families, communities, industries, and of course, 49 million hungry Americans. Why do we waste so much, what are the consequences and what can be done about it...

The U.S. has the biggest health care system in the world, and yet, Americans are not getting healthier. These facts exist as congress is preparing to dismantle and replace a massive national system created just eight years ago. What’s wrong and what’s right with our healthcare system? What can be done to make health care accessible, affordable and effective? We ask those questions, on this episode...

At the core of Farm Bureau is the idea that people working together can solve problems. One of our ways to identify future leaders who can carry through on that belief is a contest we call the Discussion Meet. Shana Angle of Bolivar, Danielle Burch of Salem, Katie Lee of Magnolia and Micaela Wright of Arcanum are this year’s final four contestants. Due to the fact that this show was recorded on th...

If you’re a journalist, the ultimate recognition of excellence is the Pulitzer Prize. Today’s guest has one. Connie Schultz was honored in 2005 for distinguished commentary for her Cleveland Plain Dealer columns that the Pulitzer committee said “provided a voice for the underdog and underprivileged.” On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, Schultz joins us to talk about the journalism profession, and h...

Two of Ohio’s most important resources are a capacity to produce food, and abundant water. Food and water are necessary for our sustenance, enjoyment, jobs and our economy. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, we talk about the intersection between food production and water quality, what farmers are doing to protect both, and how the public plays a role in their success. State Ag Director Dave Danie...

This Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Power Show Ohio takes place at the Ohio Expo Center. It features the latest and greatest in farm, outdoor and construction equipment. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, we’ll take inventory of a big part of the system that feeds us all: farm equipment. We’ll go inside the cabs of some of those tractors and combines that cost in the half-million dollar range, and...

To say 2016 was an unusual year for politics would be quite an understatement. While the national scene was rocked, things were comparatively calm in Ohio, unless you consider legalizing pot and having a governor that came pretty close to being on the ballot to be president. Today we look back at 2016, and more so ahead to 2017 in the world of Ohio politics. Veteran statehouse journalists, Karen K...

What’s in store for your wallet in 2017? Today, it’s a renewal of our annual new - year economic outlook show. Nationwide Sr. Vice President and Chief Economist Dr. David Berson returns to help us think through some of the factors that will impact our families, businesses, farms and communities in the coming year. Interest rates, investments, jobs and of course, the economic implications of a pres...

A recap of 2016 show highlights including OSU President Michael Drake, Bob Evans CEO Saed Mohseni, Nationwide Financial president Kirt Walker, World Food Prize laureate Rob Fraley and national security expert Zach Mears.

Whether your connection to animals is with a valued family pet or as an important part of the food chain, a service that’s essential to that animal is veterinary care. Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine plays a significant role in developing the folks who will make their careers in the veterinary profession. The college’s dean, Dr. Rustin Moore, joins Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp t...

“I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds.” That is the opening of what some of you will recognize as the FFA creed. The organization remains one of the nation’s top developers of agriculturalists and leaders. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, the National FFA’s new CEO, Mark Poeschl and Ohio FFA president, Mary Buehler join Ohio Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp...

While there are a lot of ways to measure the economic health of a nation, state or community, one universal measurement is jobs. Which is why, early in his first term, Ohio Governor John Kasich announced the creation of a new private non-profit corporation called JobsOhio. Today, we talk with Aaron Pitts, a senior managing director for JobsOhio, who along with Farm Bureau’s Brandon Kern, will talk...

Ohio has 608 school districts, 3,387 schools and average daily enrollment near 1.7 million. Paolo Demaria is looking out for every one of them. He’s Ohio’s superintendent of public instruction, and he joins Farm Bureau’s executive vice president Adam Sharp to talk about what Ohio’s schools are doing well, what could be better, and ultimately, making sure Ohio’s young people are prepared for the re...

Whatever your feelings about the 2016 election, there are probably some residuals from it that we’ll be dealing with for a long time. To help us analyze what took place and what’s coming next in the world of politics, we have in the studio: Political science professor emeritus Paul Beck from the Ohio State University, Mr. Joe Hallett, retired senior editor from the Columbus Dispatch, and Ms. Yvonn...

Since 1960 it’s been pretty much illegal for Americans to have much at all to do with the nation of Cuba. But the relationship is beginning to warm up and for lots of Americans, and Cubans, that could be very good news. There’s an organization that is working to move along the efforts to normalize relations between the two nations called Engage Cuba. From that group, and to help us understand what...

Ever hear of Land O’Lakes? Ocean Spray? Sunkist? These are some of the more famous companies that are not shareholder owned but rather are organized as cooperatives. Today, we’re going to learn more about the cooperative way of doing business, and how the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting farm, consumer and business co-ops in Ohio and around the country. Our guests are Sam Rikkers, admi...