Horse stable and farm owners, operators and managers, as well as equine enthusiasts who are seeking education and additional information about a myriad of issues related to equine production, management practices, and profitability are highly encouraged to consider attending an upcoming Equine Conference, hosted by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF).
 
The conferences will be held on Saturday, November 16, at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Akron, and Saturday, December 7, at the Holiday Inn-Eastgate, Cincinnati. Each conference will begin with the program getting underway promptly at 9:15 a.m. Both conferences will feature presentations regarding animal health, zoning, agricultural districts, current agricultural use valuation (CAUV), and line fence laws.
 
The Akron conference will also include sessions regarding attractive nuisance, environmental rules and regulations, safety, and how to finance environmental improvements, management practices and structures through various cost-share programs. The Cincinnati conference will feature additional sessions regarding Ohio’s equine liability law, manure management, insurance, sales tax and other tax-related issues, business management principles, and pasture and hay management for horse farms.
 
Key resource persons and experts from the Ohio State University (OSU) Extension, College of Veterinary Medicine and departments of Animal Sciences, Agricultural Economics and Horticulture & Crop Sciences — as well as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Nationwide Insurance, OFBF staff and health professionals — will serve as speakers and presenters regarding these respective issues and topics at each conference.
 
Reservations are required for both conferences. Registration fees are $25/person for Farm Bureau members and $50/person for non-members.  
 
Reservations are due by November 6 for the Akron conference, and November 27 for the Cincinnati conference. After both of these respective dates, a late fee of $10/person will be assessed. The registration fee includes all conference meals, snacks, speaker’s fees (where applicable), and educational/informational literature (brochures, handouts, etc.) distributed at each conference.
 
To obtain a registration form so that you may make a reservation to attend either conference, please contact your county Farm Bureau office or David White (614/249-2435 or dwhite@ofbf.org) or Debbie Baldwin (614/249-2427 or dbaldwin@ofbf.org) at the OFBF office in Columbus.