Ohio’s 8th Congressional District is one of the largest agricultural districts in the Buckeye State. It boasts more than 5,400 farms growing grains, produce and raising livestock on nearly 1 million acres. Each year, I host Farm Forum to bring together experts from different sectors of the agriculture community for a discussion of ideas impacting this vital industry. This year’s forum will feature a panel discussion of renewable fuels and energy, commodity prices and the overall state of agriculture.
The 2009 8th Congressional District Farm Forum will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009, at Edison Community College in Piqua from 10 am to 1 pm. Registration opens at 9:30 am.
The keynote speaker will be Brent Porteus, President of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). Brent has also served as President of the Ohio Corn Growers Association and as Chairman of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he majored in agricultural economics.
Lunch at this year’s Farm Forum will be provided by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association.
This year’s panel discussion will be moderated by Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), who is sits on the Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. While serving in the Ohio General Assembly, Rep. Latta helped bring about Ohio’s Bald Eagle license plate, funds from which aid conservation efforts for this majestic bird. He has been named a Legislator of the Year by the League Ohio Sportsmen, and he is a wildlife education instructor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Latta lives with his wife, Marcia, and their two daughters in Bowling Green.
Panelists
Joel Brandenberger, President of the National Turkey Federation
Mr. Brandenberger was appointed President of the National Turkey Federation in 2006 and has been a member of this organization for 15 years. He has worked in both the Texas Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives and was the Agriculture Editor at the Amarillo Globe-News, a regional Texas newspaper. Mr. Bradenberger lives in Rockville, MD, with his wife, Susan.
Jim Chakeres, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Poultry Association
As Executive Vice President of the Ohio Poultry Association since 2003, Mr. Chakeres has maintained the poultry industry’s presence in an evolving agricultural sector. The association represents Ohio’s egg, chicken and turkey producers. Mr. Chakeres has been involved with his family’s farm operation since age nine, and he worked with the Ohio and American Sheep Industry associations before joining the poultry association.
Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association
Bob Dinneen is the President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, the national trade association for the nation’s ethanol industry. He has led the association’s efforts to provide for marketplace growth for ethanol and the coalitions he’s formed have resulted in expanding the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to 36 billion gallons by 2022. He serves on the Energy/Agriculture Department Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee.
Steve Kopperud, Senior Vice President of Policy Directions, Inc.
Steve Kopperud is the Senior Vice President of Policy Directions, Inc., an advocacy firm specializing in health care, food, biomedical research, biotechnology, human drug and media device regulation, federal nutrition policies and programs, and environmental policies and programs. Prior to joining Policy Directions, Mr. Kopperud was Senior Vice President of the American Feed Industry Association and a former president of the Animal Industry Political Action Committee. He is a resident of Washington, D.C.
Go to the Photo Gallery to see pictures from last year’s event. And check back often – more information about Farm Forum will be posted! To register, call my office toll-free 800-582-1001 or fill in the form below.
