New members of Young Ag Professionals state committee named

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COLUMBUS – Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has named the newest members of its Young Agricultural Professionals State Committee: Dustin and Casey Converse of Richwood, Elizabeth Long of London, Brandi and Wes Montgomery of Washington Court House and Lauren Schwab of Somerville.

As committee members serving two-year terms, they will help develop and conduct activities that provide opportunities for young professionals to become involved in Ohio Farm Bureau programs.

Schwab is a Butler County Farm Bureau board trustee, Food & Animal Issues Action team member and was on its Issue 2 committee. She attended American Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot camp in Washington, D.C. in 2008. She works on the family’s sow-breed-to-wean swine farm. She also is a freelance writer for agricultural publications and works with the National Pork Board’s #RealPigFarming campaign to educate consumers. In 2015 she was a finalist in the National Pork Board’s America’s Pig Farmer of the Year. She is a graduate of Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and women’s studies and a master’s in family studies.

Dustin and Casey Converse are Union County Farm Bureau members with Dustin currently serving as a county board trustee and previously as vice president and animal issues chair. He also participated in the Young Ag Professionals trip to Washington, D.C. He is a crop insurance adjuster for ProAg Crop Insurance as well as a dealer with LG Seeds. The couple have a beef cattle and small grain operation and bale hay and straw. Casey owns and operates the Cassandra Converse Agency with American Family Insurance. She is a 2011 graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a specialization in risk management and insurance.

Long was the 2015 winner of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Discussion Meet and advanced to the Sweet 16 in American Farm Bureau’s national competition. She is a Madison County Farm Bureau member where she serves as the communications action team leader. She also is a graduate of Ohio Farm Bureau’s AgriPOWER program and has an American FFA degree. Long helps out on her family’s small cattle and grain farm. She graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and is an agriculture loan officer with PNC.

Wes and Brandi Montgomery are Fayette County Farm Bureau members with Brandi currently serving as vice president and previously as secretary and organization chair. She also competed in Ohio Farm Bureau’s Discussion Meet contest and was on the county Farm Bureau’s Farm to Fork Committee. She is an office assistant with Weade Law Office and a graduate of Wilmington College with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and concentration in agronomy. Wes, who formerly served as county president, works on the family’s row crop farm with his grandfather, father and brother.

Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Agricultural Professionals program is open to individuals and couples between the ages of 18-35 who are interested in improving the business of agriculture, learning new ideas and developing leadership skills. To get involved contact Melinda Witten at [email protected].

R-H Staff

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