Farming adds $124 billion to Ohio's economy and employs one out of eight people.
Troy Elwer led a fascinating and informative panel discussion with local farmers at Monday's meeting. Those participating were Mark Goecke, farmer and current president of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association; Devin Dye, farmer and owner/broker of Dye Real Estate & Land Company; Garth McDorman, farmer and Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension Allen County; and Eli Acheson, Senior Financial Officer at Farm Credit Mid-America. Topics included generational family farm operations, marketing crops and livestock, land prices, bird flu and the rising cost of eggs, and a number of other current issues challenging agriculture and the family farm in 2025. There are currently almost 900 farms in Allen county encompassing nearly 180,000 acres. The market value of ag products produced in Allen County is $240,849.000. The average price of farmland in Allen County is $12,000/acre.
Also at Monday's meeting, Brendan Erwin exchanged his red badge for his blue badge; and we welcomed back two previous members of the Lima Rotary Club: Georgiana Saffle, the Executive Director of Kessler Estates, and Julie Bassitt, the Director of Marketing, PR & Refractive Services of Pajka Eye Center. It's great to have you back!