COLUMBUS – Frank Burkett III of Massillon has been elected the 24th president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF).

Burkett now holds the highest elected office in Ohio’s largest and most influential farm and food organization. OFBF’s mission is to forge a partnership between farmers and consumers.

Burkett was elected by OFBF’s board of trustees upon the resignation of Steve Hirsch of Chillicothe, who left the OFBF board to stand for election to the Nationwide board of directors. Hirsch served as the organization’s president for five years.

Burkett has been OFBF’s first vice president for the past two years. He previously served as treasurer and has been on the state board since 2007. Burkett will continue to serve as the District 9 trustee representing members from Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage and Stark counties.

The new president is a long-time member of Stark County Farm Bureau where he was a board trustee, policy development chairman and farm tour chairman. He is a past board member for Ohio Dairy Producers Association and is a member of Rivertree Christian Church. He has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Ohio State University with a major in agricultural systems management and a minor in agricultural economics.

Burkett, in partnership with three uncles, co-owns and manages Clardale Farms, Inc., a dairy and crop farm.

Ohio Farm Bureau was formed in 1919 and represents the interests of Ohio’s food and farm community.

This article was submitted by the Ohio Farm Bureau.