Julie Barnes Foster

Julie Barnes-Foster began working for her family business, Barnes Nursery, when she was in Junior High School. She has spent her professional career with the family business, doing everything from sweeping floors to analyzing financials and making important everyday decisions in a highly evolving economy and agriculture industry. She completed her undergraduate work at The Ohio State University in 1994, with a BS in Agriculture—focused on Agricultural Economics. After returning to Barnes Nursery full time, she later enrolled in the MBA program at The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, specializing in Family Business. She earned her MBA from that program in 2000.

Barnes-Foster joined the Erie County Community Foundation board in 2017. She has also served as treasurer for The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Erie County since 2002, and the Erie County Board of Health from 2018 to 2022. She currently resides in Huron with her husband Dawson, children Ellee & Drake, and their two dogs.