Kaptur Announces Agricultural Innovator Bob Jones Jr. as Guest for 2025 Presidential Joint Address to Congress

Toledo, OH – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture announced she will host local Northwest Ohio farmer Bob Jones Jr., co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of The Chef’s Garden in Huron, Ohio, as her guest for the Presidential Joint Address on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

"Bob Jones represents the very best of Ohio — ingenuity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to stewardship of both the land and the people who cultivate it," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. "Through his leadership at The Chef’s Garden, Bob has not only revolutionized farming but also set a national standard for sustainable agriculture. His work proves that economic prosperity and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.”

Bob Jones Jr. is a co-owner and the Chief Executive Officer of The Chef’s Garden, a pioneering family-run farm dedicated to regenerative agricultural practices. A lifelong farmer, Bob has been instrumental in advancing sustainable farming methods, ensuring food safety, and fostering meaningful relationships with chefs, vendors, and consumers. His philosophy emphasizes the importance of long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships that sustain both people and the land. Under this leadership, The Chef’s Garden has become one of the most respected farms in the world, producing vegetables of exceptional quality and nutritional density.

Located in Huron, Ohio, The Chef’s Garden is a family-owned farm that has been at the forefront of regenerative farming for over four decades. The farm, operated by the Jones family for six generations, specializes in growing specialty vegetables, microgreens, herbs, and edible flowers using traditional, sustainable methods combined with cutting-edge technology. The farm’s innovative approach to soil health and biodiversity has helped set new industry standards for freshness, flavor, and nutrition.

In a significant step toward sustainability, The Chef’s Garden recently received a $781,897 grant from the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to support a 1-megawatt ground-mounted solar array on the farm. This project is expected to generate 1,741,400 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually — enough to power 161 homes — while offsetting nearly 50 percent of the farm’s energy consumption and saving approximately $127,759 in annual energy costs.

Bob Jones Jr. expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, "We at The Chef's Garden are deeply appreciative of Congresswoman Kaptur's support in our pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Our renewable energy project is a significant contributor to our regenerative agriculture practices by allowing us to energize our LED grow lights with power generated right here on the farm."

This investment is part of a larger renewable energy initiative at The Chef’s Garden. In addition to the USDA grant, the farm received $2.5 Million from the Ohio Department of Development and $50,000 from JobsOhio to fund a hybrid renewable energy system incorporating solar, wind, and lithium battery storage. The project is set to be commissioned in April 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned to celebrate this milestone.

Congresswoman Kaptur and Bob Jones Jr. will have media availability ahead of the Joint Address, and additional interviews and media outreach can be directed to the office of Congresswoman Kaptur.