OHIO FAMILY FARM BEEF INDUSTRY NETWORK (OFFBIN) HISTORY

In 2001, a group of northwest Ohio beef feeders formed a marketing alliance,
Great Lakes Family Farms, Inc. (GLFF). The group purchased 31 head of steers. These
producers purchased the steers to have ownership of the project and to develop
two investigative committees:

• Structural organization
• Market Research

 Out of GLFF, the Ohio Family Farm Beef Industry Network was conceived.

 The average cow-calf producer in Ohio typically owns less than 20 cows. These
small-scale producers rely on Ohio's family-owned packing and processing facilities
that annually process approximately 70,000 head of Ohio born and raised beef cattle. 
Because Ohio's beef producers are also consumers, the economic impact of the beef
industry extends beyond the individual producers to nearly every rural community in Ohio.

The objectives of the Ohio Family Farm Beef Industry Network (OFFBIN) are:

• To improve the profitability of the Ohio beef processing industry by developing
  value-added processed products for the Ohio consumer market,
• To further the formation of beef processing and retail linkage through interactions
  with Ohio’s marketing agencies, packers, processors and retailers,
• To further the knowledge base of Ohio beef processors with a focus on food safety
  and value-added products and
• To further the economic stability of the Ohio beef processing industry by providing
  a concentrated focus that will allow Ohio State University and beef processing industry
  personnel closer interact.

OFFBIN would like to accomplish:

• Add value to Ohio produced corn.
• Stabilize the exodus of cattle feeding in Ohio.
• Develop an Ohio derived branded beef product that reflects the
  market needs of our customers.
• Create a conception-to-consumer growth, marketing and consumer
  safety plan. EID, Beef Quality Assurance and Environmental Awareness.
•  Provide a repeatable eating experience for our customers.

View Video "Beef Marketing for the Future"