Town Hall Ohio

Ohio is a big food state. Lots of farmers, processors and manufacturers. And, lots and lots of hungry consumers. A sizable share of Ohio’s very diverse food chain is made up by what’s identified as local foods. What is local? How do folks all along the food chain benefit from it? What do the economics look like? Can it grow? Today, we talk with an Ohio State economist and a local foods advocate and entrepreneur to learn more, on Town Hall Ohio.

As far as resumes for public servants go, Rob Portman’s is pretty impressive. A member of the U.S. House, a cabinet level job as U.S. Trade Representative, another cabinet post as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and in 2010, elected to serve as a United States Senator. Senator Rob Portman joins Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp to talk about the economy, the environment and many other issues of the day on Town Hall Ohio.

One of our greatest privileges, and some would say responsibilities, is to vote. From local to national candidates or measures of local or state interest, a system that’s accessible, convenient, fair and secure helps us all exercise that basic right. The gentlemen who oversees Ohio’s elections is Secretary of State Frank LaRose. He joins Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp to talk about elections and other responsibilities of his office, as well as one of his big causes, civility in politics, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

In 1902, Ohio State University formed the Department of Animal Husbandry, which later evolved into Animal Sciences. Farmers know the value the department provides to Ohio’s Livestock Industry, helping them efficiently produce animal protein. In reality, all of us are impacted by Animal Sciences, whether our interests are food safety, environmental quality or human health. The chairman of Ohio State’s Department of Animal Sciences, Dr. John Foltz, joins Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President, Adam Sharp to talk all things animals, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

In past episodes of Town Hall Ohio, we’ve talked about some of the inequalities that certain people experience. It might be in health care, workforce training, sources of quality food. Today, we focus on another unfortunate reality. Not everyone has equal access to justice. It’s a problem everywhere, but is some cases more so rural Ohio. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith French, Angela Lloyd of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation and Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp are in to discuss “access to justice”, on Town Hall Ohio.

Ohioans spend a lot of money on health care. At the same time, the data says we’re not getting our money’s worth. What negative factors are affecting our health? How can the system be made more efficient, and effective? Amy Rohling McGee is the president of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, and she’s in to help us see why Ohio ranks 46th among 50 states on health value, and what do we do about it. Better health at lower cost on Town Hall Ohio.

Since its inception as a feed mill in 1963, Kalmbach Feeds has grown into a multimillion dollar business serving customers across the Midwest. Kalmbach Feeds’ trucks are a familiar sight as they traverse up and down the highways in rural Ohio, delivering bulk feed to livestock farms in the region. Kalmbach Feeds pet and livestock food is also sold at retail outlets throughout the state. Learn about the history, the current growth and future plans of one of Ohio’s most successful agribusinesses on Town Hall Ohio.

Nearly a quarter-million Ohioans are covered by workers’ comp. The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation is the largest state-run insurance program in the nation. Ohio workers, families, businesses and communities are all affected by how well and how efficiently the agency does its job. Today, the administrator of BWC, Stephanie McCloud, joins Ohio Farm Bureau’s Dan Rapp to give us a look into the issues around work place health and safety on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

No one remembers it ever being like this. Too much rain, falling far too often, has created an unprecedented situation for farmers in Ohio and across much of the nation. There have been years when some of the crop didn’t get planted, but this year, many farmers will plant nothing and those that did get planted may not produce much at harvest. The social media hashtag has become #NoPlant19 and we examine its consequences, today, on Town Hall Ohio.

Lawmakers are quickly coming up on their deadline for passing a new two year state budget. Virtually every Ohioan will be affected by the budget’s contents. Taxes, the environment, education and social issues are rolled up in the two year spending plan. Three folks who keep tabs on the budget and other state business are our guests - reporters who are members of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association are here to dissect the budget and update other events in the state capital.

The numbers are frightening. Every day, 115 Americans die from an overdose of opioids. In 2017, 5,000 of our fellow Ohioans died from the drug. In addition to the fatalities, thousands of others go to hospitals and treatment facilities. Today, we learn about the overall challenges, and in particular, about the prevention campaign called “Don’t live in Denial, Ohio,” which helps parents help their kids stay away from this deadly addiction. Fighting opioids on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

How many connections to the online world do you have? Phone, tablet, computer, smart TV, virtual assistant and on and on. All of these are very fun and very helpful… and potentially very dangerous. Hackers pose a risk to individuals, businesses and governments. While we know this, some of us still use the word “password” as our password. What are the risks, from whom, and most importantly, how do we protect ourselves? Cybersecurity expert, Mike Moran has lots of insights and ideas, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

Animals are a part of most everyone’s daily life. We connect with some as companions, others for entertainment and still others for sustenance. Today, we’re going to explore those connections through the eyes of two folks who are part of the community we rely on to provide care to our animals. Dr. Carol McConnell of Nationwide and Dr. Rustin Moore of Ohio State University are members of the veterinary profession, and join us to talk about a wide range of animal issues, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

As growth industries go, there’s nothing hotter in Ohio than craft brewing. Back in 2012, there were 47 Ohio craft brewers. Today, there are 299 with around 60 more in the planning stage. Not to miss out on the fun, late last year, Ohio Farm Bureau and North High Brewing introduced a craft beer to help celebrate Farm Bureau’s 100th Anniversary. A brewer, a blogger and Farm Bureau’s defacto beer guy talk craft brewing, and its close ties to Ohio agriculture, today on Town Hall Ohio.

Senator Sherrod Brown’s official biography lists a number of issues that he’s passionate about - social justice, economic justice, fair trade, veterans, American manufacturing, and American farmers. Today, Ohio’s senior senator serving since 2006, returns to Town Hall Ohio to talk to Ohio Farm Bureau's Executive Vice President Adam Sharp about these issues and others including Lake Erie, the Farm Bill and considering running for the President of the United States.

Every time OSU President Michael Drake or Provost Bruce McPheron are on the show, we squeeze in a little about Buckeye Football and athletics in general. Today, there’s no squeezing. Gene Smith is the director of athletics at the Ohio State University. Today, Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp and I visit with Mr. Smith, not just about OSU sports, but on what it takes to develop and manage successful enterprises and successful people.

Let me throw out a few familiar business names: J.M. Smucker, Nationwide, AEP, Marathon Petroleum, Procter and Gamble, BF Goodrich. All Ohio companies whose executives have helped lead the Ohio Business Roundtable. Its purpose: to improve the business climate for Ohio. About a year and a half ago, the roundtable brought on another familiar name. 17-year Congressman Pat Tiberi was named President and CEO. Today, on Town Hall Ohio, Mr. Tiberi and Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp solve all the economic challenges facing our state.

I’m always looking for new voices to join us on the show. In recent years, I’ve been reading a column that appears in the Columbus Dispatch by a gentleman named Jim Simon. Jim writes about big picture issues and the hot topics of the day. By my reading, his thoughts on what we need to pay attention to, and how we need to act, are worth thinking about. So, today, we’ll hear from communicator, marketer and political commentator Jim Simon, on Town Hall Ohio.

Robert Sprague keeps an eye on your piece of Ohio’s twenty billion dollars in investments and 10 billion dollars in debt. About three months ago, he became the 49th Treasurer of the State of Ohio. He’s served in both city government and the statehouse is a native of next door to God's country, and has a picture of his last appearance on Town Hall Ohio on his Facebook page. Findlay native, Treasurer Robert Sprague, is our guest this week on Town Hall Ohio.

A banner on the state attorney general’s website reads: “protecting the unprotected”. Dave Yost is Ohio’s Chief Law Officer and the department he runs touches the lives of families, communities, and governments across the state. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, the 51st attorney general of the state of Ohio, Mr. Yost joins Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp to talk about rooting out fraud, holding the corrupt accountable and reforming government.