Meet the Candidates

Ryan Fritsch

Ryan Fritsch of Berkey, Ohio is 27 years old and a 5th generation farmer. Ryan and his wife Hannah married on February, 6 of 2021 and have a 6th generation farmer due January of 2022. Ryan graduated from Ohio State in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences and minor in Production Agriculture. After college, he continued working on the family farm and is now owner of Fritschfield Farms LLC. He grows corn, soybeans, wheat, and pigs. He has implemented new technology on the farm in order to apply nutrients and manure more accurately and on a variable-rate basis. This upcoming year, there will be a cover crop on almost every acre of the farm. Ryan’s goal is to never stop improving the farm and continue to improve the soil. As a board member, he will advocate for initiatives that are profitable for farmers and good for the environment.

Stephen Loeffler

Stephen Loeffler of Berkey, Ohio has been farming for the past 44 years. He has served on the Lucas SWCD Board of Supervisors since April of 2012 and is currently in his second term as an OFSWCD Area 1 Director. His past experiences include participating/assisting with 4-H, FFA, and the Fulton County Fair. He has over 29 years in the livestock industry, including former Director of the Michigan Livestock Exchange. Stephen also has experience in ditch maintenance. He is interested in the preservation of natural resources, managing resources and budgets while in a difficult economic environment. Stephen sees the role of the SWCD as assisting in better water management, helping to conserve soil/water/wildlife, and continuing to bring conservation into the classroom. Stephen is married to his wife Denise for 16 years and now shares his farming with his son Brad.