Every year, Ohio Farm Bureau’s annual meeting reminds me why this work matters. Nearly 340 delegates from all 88 Ohio counties came together in Columbus on Dec. 11 and 12, not because it was convenient or easy, but because they care deeply about agriculture, rural communities and the future we are building together.

Our delegates are farmers, farmland owners, and agriculturalists from their home counties who have volunteered their time to listen to their neighbors, gather concerns and speak up for issues that matter. They represent real people, real farms and real families. The conversations were thoughtful, sometimes difficult, and always rooted in a shared commitment to doing what’s right for agriculture and to ensure agriculture continues to thrive for generations to come.

Delegates discussed a wide range of issues impacting our industry, including farmland preservation, local food systems, succession planning, property taxes, wildlife management, land use and zoning, and emerging technologies. There were passionate discussions and even at times debates — these conversations were real. They impact how families farm, how land is protected, and whether future generations can afford to keep farming.

Property taxes was one of the most passionate discussions. Delegates strongly supported reforming Ohio’s property tax system to address inflationary pressures while recognizing the critical importance of the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program in preserving farmland. Delegates also voted to oppose the outright elimination of property taxes, citing concerns over unknown consequences, the potential to increase agriculture’s overall tax burden, the impact on rural communities, and the loss of local control. Many essential services that rural communities rely on are funded through property taxes, and those realities were thoughtfully considered. Those realities matter.

Land use and zoning were also front and center, with delegates supporting increased citizen involvement in zoning changes and maintaining local control — particularly as it relates to short-term rentals and farmland being taken out of production. At the national level, delegates proposed policy supporting transparency in artificial intelligence through clear labeling of AI-generated media, while also encouraging new and innovative uses for agricultural products.

I’ve spent nearly a decade serving Farm Bureau members and fighting for agriculture. Some days are heavy. The challenges feel constant. But rooms like this remind me I’m not fighting alone. This group of people — passionate, thoughtful and committed — makes the hard days easier. Being surrounded by people who care deeply about farming, food and rural communities makes the work easier and reminds me why it matters.

Grassroots doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people show up, speak up and are willing to do the work. Farm Bureau is a membership organization because our strength comes from the ground up — from farmers, landowners and rural residents who care enough to get involved. Change doesn’t happen by sitting on the sidelines, and it definitely doesn’t happen on the sidelines complaining.

Having a seat at the table isn’t handed to us; it’s earned through relationships, persistence, hard conversations and trust. If agriculture matters to you, if rural communities matter to you, this is where your voice belongs.

We aren’t just reacting to change — we’re shaping the future of agriculture, one conversation and one decision at a time, together.

Orahood is the organization director for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation for Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties.