Twelve Emerging Leaders Selected for 2026 LAUNCH Program

Twelve Ohio agribusiness leaders have been selected to participate in the Ohio AgriBusiness Association’s 2026 Leaders Achieving Unexpected New Career Heights (LAUNCH) program.

Hosted by OABA, in partnership with Shift·ology Communication, the LAUNCH program is geared to help Ohio agribusinesses Elevate People, Elevate Ideas and Elevate the Industry. Participants were identified by their companies as emerging agribusiness leaders with a desire to meet higher level goals than the scope of their current position, and who seek to rise within their company.

The twelve Ohio AgriBusiness Association members enrolled in the 2026 LAUNCH program include:

• Melanie Blankenship, Eurofins Grain Inspection
• Gayle Chambers, Morral Companies, LLC
• Alex Daniel, Luckey Farmers, Inc
• Ryan Emery, Nutrien Ag Solutions
• Connor Erwin, KOVA of Ohio
• Carson Flynn, Deerfield Ag Services, Inc.
• Clayton Farquer, Nutrien Ag Solutions
• Geoff Galida, Deerfield Ag Services, Inc.
• Mara Schmid, Shift·ology Communication
• Allie Solly, Luckey Farmers, Inc
• Matt Simmons, Versova
• Cody Wright, Global Impact STEM Academy

“We are thrilled to introduce the 2026 LAUNCH class and support their growth as the next generation of agribusiness leaders,” said Melinda Witten, OABA President and CEO. “This program equips participants with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to excel in their roles and drive positive impact within their organizations and across the agriculture industry.”

LAUNCH is a transitional training – empowering employees to meet higher level goals, going beyond the scope of their current position. Agribusinesses continually compete with all industries to recruit and retain the best talent, but there is also a need to invest in those who are already passionate about agriculture and their organizations.

The program covers a wide range of topics, including personal insight and advanced leadership skills, strategic planning, critical thinking, change management, goal setting, communication and presentation skills, global issues in agriculture, sales and marketing principles, regional agribusiness trends, and state and local government.

More than 20 speakers provide their expertise through multiple interactive sessions, and participants will also visit the Ohio Statehouse to meet with key leaders and tour Cargill, Inc. in Sidney, Ohio.

A signature component of the experience is the personalized capstone project, in which participants select a strategic initiative to implement within their organization. The program also offers valuable networking opportunities, allowing participants to connect, share ideas, and build relationships with peers and industry leaders.

For additional information on OABA or the LAUNCH Program, contact Janice Welsheimer at 614-326-7520 or jwelsheimer@oaba.net.