The Logan County Land Trust held its first annual Farm Breakfast on Thursday morning at Winner Harvest Barn in DeGraff.
The non-profit welcomed around 80 agriculturally minded people from across the county, along with representatives from partner organizations including the Logan County Auditor’s Office, The Ohio State University Extension Office, the Logan County Farm Bureau, Farm Credit, and the Logan Soil and Water Conservation District.
State Senator Susan Manchester served as the featured speaker and talked about the work she has done in the past year.
She also mentioned several initiatives she and her colleagues are currently working on at the state level.
Linda Vernon, President of the Logan County Land Trust, spoke about the importance of preserving farmland locally, noting that once farmland is lost, it cannot be replaced.
She said the organization remains committed to protecting agricultural ground in Logan County on a daily basis and added that organizers will continue the Farm Breakfast and grow the event each year as they expand outreach to more local farm families.
Logan County Auditor Jack Reser also addressed attendees, introducing Jude Hammond, a Senior Appraiser with Vision Government Solutions, who provided an in-depth look at the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, or CAUV.
Hammond explained that CAUV is designed to support agricultural production while helping preserve open space by offering reduced property taxes for qualifying land.
In most cases, landowners must have at least 10 acres in agricultural use for a minimum of three years to qualify.
Smaller parcels may also be eligible if they generate at least $2,500 in annual agricultural income.
Unlike standard property assessments based on market value, CAUV determines land value based on its agricultural use.
The calculation takes into account factors such as soil type, crop yields, market prices, and typical farming patterns.
Production costs—including seed, fertilizer, fuel, equipment, and insurance—are then subtracted to determine net income, which is used to establish taxable value.
To provide consistency, the system uses a seven-year “Olympic average,” removing the highest and lowest values before calculating the final figure.
The program operates on a three-year cycle and requires annual renewal.
Officials also cautioned that landowners who withdraw from CAUV may be subject to recoupment penalties covering the previous three years of tax savings.
Joel Penhorwoof from Ohio Ag Net served as the event’s emcee.
The morning concluded with a question-and-answer session, giving attendees a better understanding of how the program could impact their operations and long-term land-use planning.
Local leaders are encouraging landowners to review eligibility requirements and contact the Logan County Auditor’s Office to determine whether CAUV is a good fit for their property.
Find more about the Logan County Land Trust HERE.
