Midwestern farmers are being offered a potential new investment opportunity: the Heartland AgVenture Association.

        A joint effort of Ohio State University's Farm Income Enhancement Program and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the aim of AgVenture is to boost farm income through the development of value-added businesses that use farm commodities.

        Focusing on a six-state territory that includes Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, the non profit corporation is being established to serve as a clearinghouse and provide feasibility studies on ideas, said Tom Sporleder, chairman of OSU's Farm Income Enhancement Program.

        Heartland AgVenture will develop business plans off the most promising feasibility studies and reduce the risk of a startup business.

        “Members will have the right, but not the obligation, to invest in new start-up businesses that are created based upon the work of Heartland AgVenture,” Mr. Sporleder said. Potential enterprises might include turning corn into polyester resin, freezing and marketing local sweet corn, or increasing raspberry production to make a processing industry viable.

        An information session will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Fayette County Fairgrounds in Washington Court House. One initiative already ongoing, an egg company called Golden Oval, will be presented.

        Organizers will also dis cuss fees, used to fund the studies and plans. Membership is $200 a year, with initiation charges varying from $800 for individual farmers, $2,500 to $5,000 depending on sales for corporations, and $500 to $5,000 depending on membership size for trade organizations.

       For information or reservations, call Tom Sporleder at 614-292-0315, Mike Pullins at 614-249-2421 or the organization's Web siteat www.heartlandagventure.org.

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