State Histories

OHIO CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION

The Ohio Corn Growers Association was organized on December 1, 1997.

John Curry, NCGA President, was in attendance to help organize and elect new officers. John Stevenson was elected president and nine others were elected board members.

In 1987, the Ohio Corn Growers Association hired Michael Wagner, their first staff person. His challenge was to pass a corn checkoff and increase membership of the Ohio Corn Growers Association which at the time was under 500 members.

In 1989, the Ohio Corn Growers Association passed a ½ cent-per-bushel checkoff which started the Ohio Corn Marketing Program.

Marion Hartman was elected the first chairman of the Ohio Corn Marketing Program Board. He previously served as the second a president of the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

In the twenty years since the OCGA was founded, many things have been accomplished. There have been two national presidents from Ohio ¾ John Stevenson and Marion Hartman.

We now have our offices in Marion, Ohio, with a staff of four and membership of approximately 2000.

In 1995, Ohio became the number-one user of ethanol-blended fuels in the United States. We have been involved in many political campaigns, political issues and projects to increase the profitability of the corn farmer in Ohio.

We have developed a web site with over 12,000 hits per month. We pride ourselves on working with Farm Bureau and the other commodity groups in the state to help build and maintain a strong agricultural industry.

In the twenty years since the Ohio Corn Growers Association started, U.S. corn production has increased by 43%, U.S. corn usage has increased by over 55%, while the average yield has increased approximately 40%.

Ohio ranks sixth in the United States in corn production.