McBride Family Farm in Ohio: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
McBride Family Farm is the operation of Jerry and Jayna McBride of Dola, Ohio, who farm 1,230 acres of no-till cropland and 74 acres of woodland in Hardin County. In September 2025 the McBrides were named one of five Conservation Family Farms at the Farm Science Review, an award that recognizes water, woodland and wildlife conservation and their work educating schools and farm groups.
| Location | Dola, Hardin County, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Founded | Not published in the source reviewed |
| Sectors | Corn and soybeans; woodland management |
| Scale | 1,230 acres of no-till cropland plus 74 acres of woodland (Ohio State Extension, Hardin County) |
| Why it is notable | 2025 Conservation Family Farm award recipient at the Farm Science Review |
| Ownership | Family farm operated by Jerry and Jayna McBride |
| Official website | Ohio State Extension Hardin County: McBride family award announcement |
History of McBride Family Farm
The Ohio State University Extension office in Hardin County announced that Jerry and Jayna McBride were among five families honored as Conservation Family Farms during the 2025 Farm Science Review in London, Ohio. The award is given for conservation of water, woodlands and wildlife, and for educating local schools and farm organizations about agriculture.
The announcement does not give a founding year or generation count, so none is claimed here. It does state that winners receive $400 from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and are featured in the September issue of Ohio Farmer magazine, which gives the award real standing in the state's farm community.
What McBride Family Farm Grows and Raises
The McBrides grow corn and soybeans on 1,230 acres of cropland farmed with no-till, along with 74 acres of woodlands. No-till planting leaves residue on the soil surface and avoids plowing, which helps protect soil from erosion and water loss. In Hardin County, an area of generally flat land in northwest Ohio, keeping soil in place and fields drained cleanly matters for both farm profit and the water quality of streams that lead to Lake Erie.
The woodland acres show a broader approach to the land. Wooded areas provide wildlife habitat, help with water movement and can be managed over the long term, and the award recognizes that approach as well as the cropland. The family's outreach to schools and farm organizations is also part of what the award celebrates.
How McBride Family Farm Makes Money
Corn and soybean sales
The farm's principal income comes from corn and soybeans on 1,230 acres. The source does not describe marketing, yields or contracts, so no figures are stated. Grain farms of this size commonly sell through local elevators, processors or contracts, but the family has not published its approach.
Cost control through no-till
The extension announcement credits no-till for conservation. Many farmers also point to fewer field passes as a way to cut fuel, labor and machinery costs, though the McBrides have not published numbers.
Recognition and farm networks
The conservation award includes a payment from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and magazine coverage. The honor is not a major income line, but it strengthens relationships with landowners, neighbors and agencies.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from McBride Family Farm
Conservation can be part of the business plan. The McBrides combine no-till cropping with woodland management and show their practices to students and farm groups. Landowners who rent ground may find that a documented conservation record helps keep leases.
Share the story. Education work does not generate cash directly, but it builds goodwill in a county where farms and neighbors share roads, water and schools. Farm Bureau, extension and soil and water conservation districts all offer ways to start.
Leaving the plow in the shed and planting straight into last year's stalks is the kind of farm discipline that deserves a standing ovation from the earthworms. For farm satire about residue, drainage tile and which soybean field gets blamed for everything, farm.FM has the farm humor. The ranch humor and farm jokes there are kind to families like the McBrides, who also find time to teach local schoolchildren.
The outlet behind those laughs, farm.FM, is the nation's first satirical farm site, complete with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers. A farm.FM humorist's archive shows what a week of it looks like.
How to Contact McBride Family Farm
Website: https://hardin.osu.edu/news/mcbride-family-receives-award-2025-farm-science-review
No farm website was found; this page is the Ohio State Extension award announcement. No address, phone or email was verified. This is a working farm, so contact the county extension office before arranging a visit.
McBride Family Farm Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Ohio State Extension, Hardin County - Award announcement with acreage and conservation details
- Ohio Farm Bureau: Growing Our Generation - State farm organization coverage of Ohio family farms
- USDA NASS Census of Agriculture - County and state farm statistics for Ohio
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Look up Hardin County corn and soybean data
- USDA Farmers.gov - Conservation programs and farm loans
McBride Family Farm FAQ
Where is McBride Family Farm?
Near Dola in Hardin County, Ohio.
How many acres do the McBrides farm?
The Ohio State Extension announcement lists 1,230 acres of no-till cropland and 74 acres of woodlands.
What award did they receive?
One of five Conservation Family Farm awards at the 2025 Farm Science Review in London, Ohio.
What do they grow?
Corn and soybeans.
McBride Family Farm is a clear Ohio example of a commercial grain farm that treats conservation as part of the operation. To see how other farms in the state manage land, markets and succession, read the Ohio state guide.