Town Hall Ohio

One of America’s greatest assets is its ability to produce abundant, affordable, safe food. One of our greatest shortcomings is that we waste about 40 percent of the food we produce. That’s 34 million tons of food, every year. Waste affects families, communities, industries, and of course, 49 million hungry Americans. Why do we waste so much, what are the consequences and what can be done about it? We’ll dig into the why’s and how’s of food waste on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

The U.S. has the biggest health care system in the world, and yet, Americans are not getting healthier. These facts exist as congress is preparing to dismantle and replace a massive national system created just eight years ago. What’s wrong and what’s right with our healthcare system? What can be done to make health care accessible, affordable and effective? We ask those questions, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

At the core of Farm Bureau is the idea that people working together can solve problems. One of our ways to identify future leaders who can carry through on that belief is a contest we call the Discussion Meet. Shana Angle of Bolivar, Danielle Burch of Salem, Katie Lee of Magnolia and Micaela Wright of Arcanum are this year’s final four contestants. Due to the fact that this show was recorded on the same day that the contest finals were held, the winner of the Discussion Meet has already been named. This year’s winner is Danielle Burch.

If you’re a journalist, the ultimate recognition of excellence is the Pulitzer Prize. Today’s guest has one. Connie Schultz was honored in 2005 for distinguished commentary for her Cleveland Plain Dealer columns that the Pulitzer committee said “provided a voice for the underdog and underprivileged.” On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, Schultz joins us to talk about the journalism profession, and her views on the America we live in.

Two of Ohio’s most important resources are a capacity to produce food, and abundant water. Food and water are necessary for our sustenance, enjoyment, jobs and our economy. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, we talk about the intersection between food production and water quality, what farmers are doing to protect both, and how the public plays a role in their success. State Ag Director Dave Daniels, Ohio State Agronomist Greg Labarge and Farm Bureau Exec Adam Sharp talk food production and water quality.

This Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Power Show Ohio takes place at the Ohio Expo Center. It features the latest and greatest in farm, outdoor and construction equipment. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, we’ll take inventory of a big part of the system that feeds us all: farm equipment. We’ll go inside the cabs of some of those tractors and combines that cost in the half-million dollar range, and explore the past and future of farm equipment retailing.

To say 2016 was an unusual year for politics would be quite an understatement. While the national scene was rocked, things were comparatively calm in Ohio, unless you consider legalizing pot and having a governor that came pretty close to being on the ballot to be president. Today we look back at 2016, and more so ahead to 2017 in the world of Ohio politics. Veteran statehouse journalists, Karen Kasler and Jim Siegel make up our reporters roundtable, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

What’s in store for your wallet in 2017? Today, it’s a renewal of our annual new - year economic outlook show. Nationwide Sr. Vice President and Chief Economist Dr. David Berson returns to help us think through some of the factors that will impact our families, businesses, farms and communities in the coming year. Interest rates, investments, jobs and of course, the economic implications of a presidency unlike any we’ve seen before. We get some insights into the economy, today, on Town Hall Ohio.

A recap of 2016 show highlights including OSU President Michael Drake, Bob Evans CEO Saed Mohseni, Nationwide Financial president Kirt Walker, World Food Prize laureate Rob Fraley and national security expert Zach Mears.

Whether your connection to animals is with a valued family pet or as an important part of the food chain, a service that’s essential to that animal is veterinary care. Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine plays a significant role in developing the folks who will make their careers in the veterinary profession. The college’s dean, Dr. Rustin Moore, joins Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp to talk about animals and the people who care for them, on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

“I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds.” That is the opening of what some of you will recognize as the FFA creed. The organization remains one of the nation’s top developers of agriculturalists and leaders. On this episode of Town Hall Ohio, the National FFA’s new CEO, Mark Poeschl and Ohio FFA president, Mary Buehler join Ohio Farm Bureau’s Adam Sharp to talk about the people and programs that help drive our nation’s vitality.

While there are a lot of ways to measure the economic health of a nation, state or community, one universal measurement is jobs. Which is why, early in his first term, Ohio Governor John Kasich announced the creation of a new private non-profit corporation called JobsOhio. Today, we talk with Aaron Pitts, a senior managing director for JobsOhio, who along with Farm Bureau’s Brandon Kern, will talk about how we’re doing and what we might expect in the future.

Ohio has 608 school districts, 3,387 schools and average daily enrollment near 1.7 million. Paolo Demaria is looking out for every one of them. He’s Ohio’s superintendent of public instruction, and he joins Farm Bureau’s executive vice president Adam Sharp to talk about what Ohio’s schools are doing well, what could be better, and ultimately, making sure Ohio’s young people are prepared for the rest of their lives. Ohio’s educational system is our topic on this episode of Town Hall Ohio.

Whatever your feelings about the 2016 election, there are probably some residuals from it that we’ll be dealing with for a long time. To help us analyze what took place and what’s coming next in the world of politics, we have in the studio: Political science professor emeritus Paul Beck from the Ohio State University, Mr. Joe Hallett, retired senior editor from the Columbus Dispatch, and Ms. Yvonne Lesicko, vice president of public policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Since 1960 it’s been pretty much illegal for Americans to have much at all to do with the nation of Cuba. But the relationship is beginning to warm up and for lots of Americans, and Cubans, that could be very good news. There’s an organization that is working to move along the efforts to normalize relations between the two nations called Engage Cuba. From that group, and to help us understand what’s taking place, my guests are Mr. Luis Alcalde of the Ohio law firm Kegler, Brown, Hill and Ritter and a well-travelled advocate for improved Cuban relations; Ms. Addie Bryant of the Engage Cuba organization, and Mr. Branden Kern, Sr. Director of Policy Outreach for Ohio Farm Bureau, which also is a part of the Engage Cuba organization.

Ever hear of Land O’Lakes? Ocean Spray? Sunkist? These are some of the more famous companies that are not shareholder owned but rather are organized as cooperatives. Today, we’re going to learn more about the cooperative way of doing business, and how the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting farm, consumer and business co-ops in Ohio and around the country. Our guests are Sam Rikkers, administrator for the rural business-cooperative service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tony Logan is state director for USDA Rural Development, and Yvonne Lesicko is Farm Bureau’s vice president of public policy.

There are 7.7 million voters in Ohio, and it’s Jon Husted’s job to keep track of all of them. Husted is Ohio’s 53rd Secretary of State. He previously served in the Ohio house, and was its speaker, served in the Ohio senate, and prior to his public service worked for chamber of commerce in Dayton. Also, back with us on this episode of Town Hall Ohio, Adam Sharp, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau.

Clinton campaign spokesman Representative David Leland and Trump campaign spokesman Congressman Bob Gibbs discuss their candidate's positions on foreign policy, immigration, police- community relations, Supreme Court appointments and other topics.

Clinton campaign spokesman Representative David Leland and Trump campaign spokesman Congressman Bob Gibbs discuss their candidate's positions on the economy, fighting terrorism, health care, international trade and other topics.

This fall you’ll be casting some important ballots. President, senator, legislators. And, hopefully, judges. 50% of us tend to either fail to cast a vote for judges or do so infrequently. Today’s guest would like to help us to do better. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor returns to Town Hall Ohio, and along with Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp, we will discuss a variety of issues centered on the Ohio Judiciary.