Ohio Pork Council expands advocacy with new Government Affairs & Grassroots Associate

The Ohio Pork Council has expanded its commitment to serving Ohio’s pig farmers with the addition of Dawson Osborn as government affairs and grassroots associate, a newly created position designed to strengthen the organization’s advocacy efforts. In this new role, Osborn will work alongside Ohio Pork Council Executive Vice President Cheryl Day to support the council’s government affairs strategy, strengthen relationships with elected officials and government agencies, expand grassroots engagement with pork producers, and help identify emerging legislative, regulatory, and community issues affecting Ohio’s pork industry. The position was created to provide additional capacity as the organization continues to expand its advocacy efforts and build stronger connections between Ohio pig farmers and policymakers. 

“The future of Ohio’s pork industry depends on building strong relationships and ensuring the voices of our farmers are heard wherever important decisions are made,” Day said. “Dawson brings an exceptional combination of agricultural roots, legislative experience, and a genuine passion for representing farmers in this new position. His ability to connect with producers and policymakers alike makes him an outstanding addition to our team as we continue strengthening our advocacy efforts.”

Raised on his family’s beef cattle and soybean farm near Lynchburg, Ohio, Osborn developed a lifelong appreciation for production agriculture. He was named a 2021-22 Ohio FFA State Officer before earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University. Most recently, he served for two and a half years as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he gained firsthand experience working with legislators, public policy, and the legislative process. Today, he also manages Osborn Show Cattle alongside his family and serves as a livestock judge at county and state cattle shows throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Although his agricultural background centers on the beef industry, Osborn says his commitment to agriculture extends well beyond one commodity.

“Even though I raise cattle, much of my extended family and friends raise pigs, and I have a deep passion for animal agriculture as a whole,” Osborn said. “This opportunity allows me to represent people I care deeply about while using my experience in public policy to help advance Ohio agriculture.”

Osborn said the Ohio Pork Council’s reputation and longstanding commitment to producers made joining the organization an easy decision.

“I have tremendous respect for the Ohio Pork Council, its leadership, and, most importantly, the farmers who have built this organization,” he said. “I wanted to be part of continuing that legacy and doing everything I can to represent the interests of Ohio’s pig farmers.”

During his time working in the Ohio House of Representatives, Osborn witnessed firsthand the impact grassroots organizations have on the policymaking process.

“I learned that organizations representing working farmers carry tremendous credibility with lawmakers,” he said. “Strong grassroots engagement makes a real difference because legislators value hearing directly from the people affected by policy decisions. I understand how important it is to help connect producers with elected officials, and I’m excited to contribute to Ohio Pork’s long history of successful advocacy.”

His motivation for serving agriculture comes from a desire to create opportunities for future generations.

“Agriculture is the industry that raised me and gave me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Osborn said. “I’m driven to help ensure those same opportunities continue to exist for future generations by supporting an industry that feeds families, strengthens rural communities and contributes so much to our state.”

In his new role, Osborn will help coordinate legislative meetings, farm tours, producer engagement activities, local government outreach, and policy research while supporting the Council’s work to protect Ohio pork producers’ ability to operate and succeed in an increasingly complex policy environment.

With the addition of this new position, the Ohio Pork Council continues investing in the people and relationships necessary to advocate effectively for Ohio’s pig farmers while strengthening the industry’s voice in communities and at every level of government.