Steven D. Maurer

Steven D. Maurer devoted his life to public service—in the military, elected office, and Ohio agriculture. A Shelby County native and Vietnam veteran, he earned the Bronze Star with double oak leaf cluster and the Army Commendation Medal before returning home to teach and later serve as mayor of Botkins.

As a state senator, Maurer championed the Linked Deposit and Amusement Ride Safety Programs. He later led the Ohio Department of Agriculture, helping create the Grain Indemnity Fund, Ohio Grape Industries Program, and the state’s first Organic Standard of Identity—naming the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) as the first organic certifier. For 16 years, he served as Ohio’s State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency under two presidents, overseeing Farm Bill implementation and expanding farm loan access. He also helped launch the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Maurer was respected for his intelligence, fairness, and strong sense of duty, also serving in key roles at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Farmers Union, and OEFFA. His legacy is one of visionary leadership and unwavering service.