Ogle County Farm Bureau

TO ADVANCE AGRICULTURE AND IMPROVE THE PROFITABILITY OF OUR MEMBERS AND FAMILY FARM LIFE.

AG EDUCATION- WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OVER 15 4-H CLUBS IN OGLE COUNTY SERVING YOUNGSTERS FROM THE AGES OF 7-18. THIS SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES ACTIVITIES RELATED TO OUR ANNUAL OGLE COUNTY 4-H FAIR THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS. WE ALSO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 6 FFA CHAPTERS IN EACH OF OUR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES SPONSORING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 13-18 TO ATTEND VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES AND EVENTS. WE PARTNER WITH OUR COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE, ANOTHER COUNTY FARM BUREAU AND OTHER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE IN AREA SCHOOLS CALLED AG-IN-THE-CLASSROOM. THIS PARTNERSHIP INVOLVES FUNDING PROVIDED BY OUR, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND AGRIBUSINESSES, TO HIRE AN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION COORDINATOR, PROVIDE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS AND PAY EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH CONDUCTING AGRICULTURE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES IN A TWO COUNTY AREA.

MEMBER SERVICES & INFORMATION ACTIVITIES- WE PROVIDE A MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR OUR VOTING MEMBERS TO KEEP THEM INFORMED ON ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS, PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR FARM OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN BY THE ORGANIZATION IN REPRESENTING THEIR INTERESTS. WE PROVIDE A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION TO OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS KEEPING THEM INFORMED ON MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AND PROMOTING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION. WE COORDINATE VARIOUS NEWSLETTERS, MEMBER INFORMATION AND EDUCATION, PROGRAMS AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES WITH AFFILIATE ENTITIES AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING OF OUR MEMBERS. VARIOUS TIMES IN THE YEAR WE PROVIDE TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS, PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, SPONSOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE.

PUBLIC POLICY- WE ANNUALLY COORDINATE PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITIES IN OGLE COUNTY ENCOMPASSING ISSUES ON A NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. LOCALLY WE HOST VARIOUS MEMBER PROGRAMS TO GATHER THEIR INPUT ON VARIOUS ISSUES AND EXAMINE ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY AS IT RELATES TO THOSE ISSUES; WE ALSO SURVEY A PORTION OF OUR MEMBERS RANDOMLY TO GAUGE THEIR OPINIONS ON CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING OGLE COUNTY, OUR ORGANIZATION AND AGRICULTURE. WE ARE INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLICY ISSUES BY COORDINATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSIONS BY INVITATION OF PUBLIC BODIES AND GATHERING MEMBER INPUT ON POLICY POSITIONS. ON A NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL WE COORDINATE ELECTED OFFICIAL CONTACTS THROUGH OUR MEMBERSHIP TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE PUBLIC POLICY ARENA AND EDUCATE THEM ON LEGISLATION AND LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES THAT WILL AFFECT THEIR BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES AND LIVES. WE ALSO HOST PUBLIC OFFICIALS PROGRAMS TO DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES WITH OUR ORGANIZATION LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS.