Letter of Support - Ohio Farm Bureau, HB 168 and HB 169 (March 17, 2021)

Summary

A letter dated March 17, 2021, to The Honorable Jay Edwards, Chair of the Ohio House Economic and Workforce Development Committee, from Jenna Reese, Director of State Policy at Ohio Farm Bureau. The letter says Ohio farmers have suffered declining farm income and that bars, restaurants and small businesses in rural communities need support after the COVID-19 pandemic. It also stresses the need for financial resources for Ohio State, independent and county fairs and refers to the 4-H program. It states that Farm Bureau supports HB 168 and HB 169 and urges the committee to support them.

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Full text

                                                                                     March 17, 2021
The Honorable Jay Edwards, Chair
Ohio House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
77 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Dear Chair Edwards,

Over the last eight years, Ohio farmers have suffered declining farm income, devastating crop
damage, eroding markets and now the effects of a global pandemic. Rural communities are
hanging on as their small businesses close, students attempt to learn from home and economic
opportunities dry up. We would like to highlight our support for funding to help revitalize Ohio
businesses and our rural communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered an economic blow to many industries, but none so much
as our hospitality and entertainment industries. The shutdown came at a high price to our bars
and restaurants, and many of them will never recover. This is a crucial market for our farmers
that largely dried up during an already challenging time. Small businesses such as restaurants
and others who produce value-added agricultural products in our small communities need
additional support to survive. It is incredibly important that these industries get some relief as the
situation was completely out of their control that forced them to stop doing business.

As you know, our Ohio State, independent, and county fairs are also extremely important to our
members and communities. We would like to specifically lift up the urgent need for financial
resources for our fairs to operate this year in the absence of many last year. The 4-H program
provides youth all across the State of Ohio with the leadership development skills they need, and
Ohio’s fairs give them the opportunity to showcase those skills and their communities to support
them.

Farm Bureau supports HB 168 and HB 169, and we urge the committee to support these pieces
of legislation and the critical support they provide to Ohio’s businesses and communities.

Respectfully,




Jenna Reese
Director of State Policy
Ohio Farm Bureau


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