One of my favorite things that signals that fall is on the way is the Trumbull County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting.

Each year, our meeting is held at a local member’s business, community center or farm. Each event consists of the annual business meeting as well as camaraderie among farmers.

This year’s annual meeting was on Sept. 11 at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds. This meeting was a cookout-style dinner, with popcorn produced by local farmers and a trivia game. Local Farm Bureau members came out, partook in the grassroots organizations meeting, enjoyed a meal together and saw what Farm Bureau has been doing throughout the year. Not only were updates in the county given, but scholarship award winners were announced and awards were presented as well.

In addition, board members very generously donated gift cards, raffle baskets and more that were auctioned off via a silent auction. Not only is this a good fundraiser for the Farm Bureau locally, but it also is a great way for these smaller businesses to get their name and products advertised.

If you are a Farm Bureau member, even if you’re not very active in the organization, I highly encourage you to come to an annual meeting and get the chance to see what your membership has to offer and what we as an organization are doing for you and your farm.

If you are not a Farm Bureau member but see this as a point of interest to you, I highly encourage you to look into joining the organization, or even just coming out to the annual meeting to see what we are all about and ways you can get involved and make a difference in your local farming community.

Personally, being a Farm Bureau member has been so much more than a membership to me. I have made many lifelong friends, experienced many educational events, traveled to many great learning and leadership events, and can advocate for farming in my local community.

Many of us don’t hesitate to sign up for the next movie rental subscription or free shipping program, so why not sign up for an organization that is making moves to better the local farm community?

Holler is a member of the Trumbull County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees.