LIMA, Ohio – The Ohio Grain Farmers Symposium (OGFS), an annual event for Ohio’s corn, soy and wheat growers, promised to be better than its inaugural year in 2009. Thanks to an expanded trade show and a variety of expert speakers and entertainment, attendance records were broken in 2010.
An estimated 300 people attended the OGFS at the Veterans’ Memorial Civic and Convention Center in Lima December 16. The night before the event, dozens turned out for an Ohio Corn/Soy PAC event featuring Karl Rove, a former special aide to President George W. Bush, author and FOX News contributor.
“We worked hard to ensure that our topics are up-to-date and that our speakers are at the top of their industry,” said John Davis, president of the Ohio Corn Growers Association.
Topics covered during the 2010 OGFS included on-farm regulations, the 2012 Farm Bill, consumer attitudes and the food industry, atrazine and watershed concerns. The Ohio Corn Growers Association, the Ohio Soybean Association and the Ohio Wheat Growers Association also held their annual business meetings at the event.
The day of learning was topped off by a performance by Drew Hastings, an Ohio farmer and comedian who has appeared on “The Tonight Show,” Comedy Central and “The Bob and Tom Radio Show.”
More than 35 companies that service the agricultural industry participated in the on-site trade show.
“It was an excellent event,” said Jeff Wuebker, president of the Ohio Soybean Association. “We’re already looking forward to next year and what we can do to bring in even more attendees, while giving timely and helpful information to Ohio farmers.”