Brian Harbage

Alumnus of the Agricultural Business and Farm Management Program

It never occurred to Brian Harbage to become anything other than a farmer just as his father and seven other generations before him had done, but he did become the first in his immediate family to pursue a college degree believing the more he learned, the more successful he would be in his business.

 

Since graduating in 1993, Brian has parlayed his education in the classroom with years of hands-on experience resulting in the sizable family farm he and his wife manage today. The rewards in their line of work can seem far and few between, but in 2004 their dedication and entrepreneurial efforts paid off as they were named Outstanding Young Farmers by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, which recognizes young farmers ages 35 and under for their successful accomplishments in the farming business, as well as their leadership in the agricultural community. That same year, they received national recognition from the American Farm Bureau Federation becoming one of top 10 farms in the nation.

 

Brian continues to be a student of current agricultural trends, business strategies and management techniques. He has also developed a reputation for being a willing participant in farm advocacy activities and has been recruited for many different state, regional and national committees.

 

Brian’s business has grown from the 40 acres he rented as a teenager to just over 1,000 acres today with plans to more than double that when his father retires.

 

We are honored to count him among our young noteworthy graduates.