Carl Link, Ft. Recovery

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced five appointments to the 15-member National Pork Board including Carl Link of Ft. Recovery. Link is a Production Manager at Cooper Farms. The five appointees will each serve 3-year terms.

College faculty and staff surprised the crowd with a flashmob dance to "Hang on Sloopy".

The 59th Annual College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Recognition Program highlighted many outstanding faculty, students and student organizations. The banquet was dedicated to Dean Bobby Moser and his wife, Pat. The event was organized by Suzie McMullen, junior in agricultural and extension education and Lindy Smith, senior in animal sciences. Visit the photo gallery for more images from the evening. (Photos by Lyndsey Murphy).

Towers Faculty Award: Dr. Jill Pfister

Outstanding First Year Students: Blake Spitznagel, an agricultural communications major from Cincinnati & Joey Brown, animal sciences major from Edon

Medard Ruehle Scholarship: Beverly Lennartz, junior in agribusiness and applied economics from Fort Recovery

Outstanding Service to Students: Dr. Jill Pfister & Dr. Bobby Moser

The Scarlet and Gray Ag Day Committee was named the Ed Johnson Outstanding Student Organization.

New Activity Award: Alpha Zeta Partners, Run for their Lives 5K

Ray A. Miller CFAES Student Council Scholarship: Derek McCracken, junior in agricultural education from Anna and Linsey Howell, junior in agribusiness and applied economics from Danville

Top 10 Seniors:

Dustin Homan, agricultural & extension education, Anna

Krystin Bachman, animal sciences, Lancaster

Hannah Crossen, agricultural & extension education, Jeromesville

Drew Enigk, animal sciences, Cincinnati

Laura Gordon, animal sciences and ag systems management, Shreve

Elizabeth Heitkamp-Coons, agricultural communications, Versailles

The Top 10 Seniors from the CFAES Class of 2012.

Kate Stevens, animal sciences, Columbus

Alison Park, animal sciences, Burgoon

Emily Stayduhar, animal sciences, Canonsburg, PA

Abigail Snyder, food science, chemistry & English, Kingston

The Ohio Agricultural Council (OAC) will induct Dr. Charles Lifer of Columbus, Dr. Bobby Moser of Dublin, Dr. Donald Myers of Dover, and Micheal (“Micki”) Zartman of Worthington, into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame during a special breakfast ceremony held in the Rhodes Youth Center at the Ohio Expo Center. The 47^th annual event will attract 500 guests to honor these four professionals for their lifetime of service and dedication to Ohio’s agriculture community.

“Our Board is extraordinarily pleased to be honoring such a diverse group of inductees into this year’s class,” said David Barrett, OAC president.  “Each inductee stands out individually for his or her exceptional contributions  to Ohio agriculture, but together they represent the passion, creativity and hard work evidenced by their collective decades of unmatched experience.”

The following four inductees will join the more than 200 prior recipients named since 1966 when the program was incepted.

Charles Lifer, Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio 4-H program would not be the excellent program it is without Dr. Charles Lifer’s extraordinary contributions, visionary leadership, wisdom, hard work, and personal commitment. He began his service to The Ohio State University Extension nearly 50 years ago as a county extension agent, and has earned a national reputation for his positive efforts to improve and expand the 4-H program.

Under his leadership, Dr. Lifer has doubled 4-H membership, restructured the Ohio 4-H Foundation to involve more key executives, quadrupled the Ohio 4-H Endowment Fund, and initiated the first 4-H Center on a land-grant university campus. In addition, he has provided leadership for numerous state and national committees.

Dr. Lifer is one of those rare individuals who continually and consistently makes an extraordinarily positive difference “behind the scenes.” His advice and counsel is sought, valued and used by people from experienced government and university officials to the newest teen 4-H ambassadors. The advice and mentorship he has provided for agricultural leaders has made a tremendous difference in the quality and scope of programs throughout Ohio and the nation.

Dr. Bobby Moser, Dublin, Ohio

Dr. Bobby Moser has served as the vice president for Agricultural Administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University for 20 years. Under his leadership, he has achieved many things, including: a more than 200-percent increase in grant awards, the issuance of more than 86 patents, the establishment of the Food Innovation Center, and the building of the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

In 2005, Moser’s leadership in global agricultural development was recognized in his appointment by then President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US-India Knowledge Initiative on Agricultural Education, Teaching, Research, Service and Commercial Linkages. He has served in a multitude of leadership roles from state to international levels, and has received numerous accolades.

Dr. Moser has devoted his entire life to the betterment of agriculture – from his service to his local community to his contributions to national issues. His outstanding character, uncompromising integrity, and his passion for Ohio agriculture are unwavering.

Dr. Donald Myers, Dover, Ohio

For more than 30 years, Dr. Donald Myers has served The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences as an extension agent, state extension specialist, and member of the teaching and research faculty. His expertise in forage production has had a tremendous impact on agriculture and livestock production through increased efficiency and productivity.

Myers, known by many as the “father of no-till forages in Ohio” or “alfalfa specialist,” was instrumental in the development of the innovative no-tillage forage seeding system, which has received worldwide recognition. In addition, Myers has authored more than 50 publications distributed through the nation to assist farmers in improving forage productivity.

His integrity and honesty have earned him unparalleled respect with farmers, the retail trade industry, and his professional peers. Even now in retirement, Myers continues to work as a tireless educator and advocate of conservation practices to further improve Ohio agriculture.

 Micheal (Micki) Zartman, Worthington, Ohio

Micki Zartman’s academic training in child development and her avocation to promote agricultural literacy have culminated in programs that inform and inspire a new generation of leaders and innovators. Zartman spearheaded the formation of dairy farm tours for local urban and rural school children. As a result, she took her enthusiasm to a new level and founded Scarlet and Gray Ag Day at The Ohio State University (OSU) in 1999, which is an outreach program designed to bring elementary students from surrounding schools to campus to learn about the industry and opportunities within agriculture. She has been honored by numerous OSU affiliated clubs and organizations for her dedication to enhancing awareness of and appreciation for the agricultural industry.

Most recently, Zartman has been working to expand the involvement of Ohio high school students in the World Food Prize Youth Institute, further changing the way young people engage and act with issues of food security.

Zartman’s ongoing devotion to the agriculture community cannot be measure in hours or programs, but by the students, teachers and community members she has touched and transformed with her enthusiasm, desire for excellence, and passion for agriculture.

For further information about sponsorship in honor of the inductees, or to obtain tickets to the Agricultural Hall of Fame induction ceremony, contact the Ohio Ag Council at 614-794-8970 or via email at info@ohioagcouncil.org.

Yvonne Lesicko has been named senior director of legislative and regulatory policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). She will manage OFBF’s legislative and regulatory team and represent the interests of Farm Bureau members with Congress, the General Assembly and with federal and state regulatory agencies.

Lesicko was formerly on the Farm Bureau public policy team from 1994 – 1997 and rejoins the organization after being director of government relations for Cincinnati Bell Telephone since 1997. She received a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College and a master’s in public administration from Ohio State University. She is a past president of the Ohio Lobbying Association and has been active with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Ohio Commodores and Girl Scouts alumni. Lesicko was raised on a Huron County grain farm where her family also operated a seed processing plant. She and her husband, Scott, have a son, Oscar.

“Farm Bureau members are going to be well served by Yvonne,” according to Adam Sharp, OFBF vice president of public policy. “She has the experience and energy to carry our members’ message to all levels of government and we’re glad she’s on the team.”

Ohio Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of its members and all Ohioans by engaging in public policy, communications and member service activities.

• Grain: Paul Riehm, Commodity Representative with Bunge North America. Riehm was re-elected to a second term for his Board position, and brings more than 30 years of experience in Ohio agribusiness to the OABA Board. He is currently a member of the OABA Grain Committee and views OABA as a valuable resource of information, education and a political voice for Ohio agribusiness.
• Seed: Nathan Louiso, Regional Sales Manager with AgriGold Hybrids, covering all of Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Louiso has been a member of the OABA Seed Committee for the last four years — and Chairman for the past two years, and serves as a member of the alumni board of The Ohio State University’s Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.
• Member-At-Large: Jim Collins, Vice President of GVM West. Collins was re-elected to a second term for his Board position, and has been involved with OABA for more than 30 years, having served on OABA Boards on three different occasions and various committees. He believes OABA needs to continue to support young people seeking careers in the agribusiness industry and remain a viable tool for existing members.
• Member-At-Large: Doug Busdeker, General Manager of Retail Facilities with The Andersons, Inc. Busdeker has worked more than 35 year in the retail fertilizer industry, and is a past president of the Ohio AgroBusiness Association (now merged with Ohio AgriBusiness Association).

These new members will take effect May 1, along with the following 2012-2013 officer changes:

• Chairwoman: Jill Boyd, Territory Sales Manager with Morral Companies, LLC
• Vice Chairman: Mark Sunderman, President/CEO with Deshler Farmers Elevator Company
• Past Chairman: Herb Mayer, Turf and Ornamental Division Manager with Trupointe Cooperative, Inc.

“We had a great group of candidates this year, and we’re fortunate to have such great professionals on our Board,” said Chris Henney, OABA President and CEO. “OABA Board members bring their knowledge and expertise in a vast array of agribusiness areas, which is a tremendous value to the association, and ultimately to our members.”

Below is a full list of the 2012-2013 OABA Board of Directors:

• Jill Boyd with Morral Companies, LLC, representing the fertilizer industry
• David C. Barrett with Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham & Eselgroth LLP.
• Walter Burd with Town & Country Co-op Inc., representing the agrichemical industry
• Doug Busdeker with The Andersons, Inc.
• David Case with Bayer CropScience, representing the seed industry
• Jim Collins with GVM West
• Jack Heim with Menncograin, representing the grain industry
• Nathan Louiso with AgriGold Hybrids, representing the seed industry
• Herb Mayer with Trupointe Cooperative, Inc.
• Paul Riehm with Bunge North America, representing the grain industry
• Mark Sunderman with Trupointe Cooperative, Inc., representing the fertilizer industry
• Andy Swerlein with Luckey Farmers, Inc., representing the feed industry
• Dave Wurm with Rosen’s Inc., representing the agrichemical industry
• John Ward with ABIS/JH Ward Agency
• Thomas Zitter with Big K Mills, Inc., representing the feed industry

Nineteen select leaders and advocates recently graduated from Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s (OFBF) AgriPOWER Institute. The intensive, yearlong leadership training program was launched in 2008 to help farmers and agricultural professionals gain influence over public policy issues that impact their businesses.

Class IV graduates are: Matt Aultman, Darke County; Michele Burkey, Tuscarawas County; Yvonne Fair, Jefferson County; Adam Garman, Ross County; Jeff Heimerl, Licking County; Ty Kellogg, Geauga County; Jack Leslie, Wyandot County; Jeff Moore, Gallia County; Katie Myers-Griffith, Wayne County; Amanda Propst, Champaign County; Kristin Reese, Fairfield County; Bruce Simmons, Medina County; Myra Snider, Delaware County; Terri Studer, Butler County; Matt Stump, Union County; Leland Tinklepaugh, Franklin County; Curtis Tobe, Putnam County; Kris Vincent, Stark County; and Carol Wildman, Clark County.

During the past year, participants engaged government officials, activists, media insiders and farm leaders on pressing local, state and national issues. Among the topics were government structure and spending, regulations, the environment, animal welfare, international trade and public relations.

“Ohio Farm Bureau is committed to the success of AgriPOWER and believes that there has never been a more important time for people to stand up for agriculture and tell their stories,” said Sandy Kuhn, AgriPOWER director. “This is really the purpose of AgriPOWER as graduates are trained to become the future leaders and advocates for agriculture.”

Prior to graduation, participants developed goals for using their training to effectively impact public policy. At graduation, AgriPOWER Class IV presented Kuhn with a $1,000 scholarship to help with the funding of Class V. “They have truly learned the power of paying forward,” Kuhn said.

In addition to OFBF, AgriPOWER partners include Nationwide Insurance, Ohio Soybean Council, Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Ohio Pork Producers Council, Ohio Corn Marketing Program, Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program, Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Beef Council, Monsanto, Agri-Trac Equipment, Pioneer, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Trupointe Cooperative, Inc., Stark County Farm Bureau, Franklin County Farm Bureau, AgriPOWER alumni and AgriPOWER Class III.

For additional information about AgriPOWER, contact OFBF at (614) 246-8249, visit OFBF’s website at http://ofbf.org/get-involved/agripoweror e-mail skuhn@ofbf.org

“We have assembled a great executive team of professionals who have wide array of experience in agriculture, public administration and public policy,” said Daniels. “I look forward to working with everyone to continue our daily work of assisting farmers and protecting consumers in the State of Ohio.”

Wise will oversee the department’s day-to-day regulatory operations and laboratories, in addition to the department’s policies and procedures. Prior to his this recent appointment, Wise served as the department’s assistant director from 2004 through 2006.  From July 1999 to June 2004, he served as the executive director of the department’s Office of Farmland Preservation.  Wise has served in several leadership capacities at the Ohio Department of Development.  He is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees in political science and public administration.

Bailey will oversee the department’s Plant Health, Weights and Measures and Livestock Environmental Permitting divisions, and will shape department policy.  Since joining the department in 2004, Bailey has served as executive director of the Office of Farmland Preservation and executive director of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.  A combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, he currently serves as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Army Reserve.  Bailey is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in agricultural economics.

Mead’s responsibilities will include overseeing the department’s legislative, communication and marketing efforts, and shaping department policy. She will also continue to work on promoting agribusiness opportunities in the state. Mead, who joined the department in 2011 and most recently served as chief of the Markets division, has also worked for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. She has also previously worked in communications for the Ohio State Alumni Association and Mycogen Seeds.  She is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a degree in agricultural communications.

King will be responsible for overseeing and promoting the department’s farmland preservation program.  She brings more than 20 years of experience with natural resources management and conservation  policy to the department.  King, who most recently served as a deputy superintendent with the Ohio Department of Commerce, has previously worked as a government relations program director for The Nature Conservancy, as chief of the division of Recycling and Litter Prevention and as chief of policy for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. She is currently a Washington Township trustee and has previously served on Dubin City Council and as vice-mayor of Dublin.

Orahood will be responsible for the department’s human resources management and will oversee employee and labor relations. She most recently served as a fiscal and human resources manager with the Office of the Governor, and has previously worked for the Ohio Office of Budget and Management and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services.  Orahood is a graduate of Franklin University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration.

As communications director, Pitchford will serve as chief spokesperson for the department and will be responsible for coordinating communication plans for the agency. Joining the department in 2011, she served as a public information officer prior to this appointment. Pitchford also spent four years working as an aide in the Ohio Senate. She is a cum laude graduate of Ashland University and was a scholar with The John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs.

As legislative liaisons, Honnold and McNab will act as advocates on behalf of the department to the Ohio General Assembly and U.S. Congress, and will work with consumer groups and industry representatives to assist in the research and development of legislative changes.  Honnold most recently worked as the deputy director of communications and community education at the Office of the Ohio Treasury and previously served as an aide in the Ohio House of Representatives.  Prior to his appointment, McNab worked as an aide in the Ohio Senate.

“Dr. Forshey’s passion for animal agriculture has had a positive impact on countless producers and veterinarians across the country, with his thoughts and guidance helping animal agriculture think of where it is and where it should be,” states Dr. Robert Fourdraine, Chairman of NIAA’s Board. “His innovative thinking and leadership motivates others.

“Dr. Forshey also takes the art of listening to a new level. He possesses a knack for listening to people and helping them develop and achieve significantly more than they ordinarily would. This skill is evident in all arenas of his professional life. If you want to think ‘big’ and understand what’s possible, just be around Dr. Forshey for a minute or two.”

Dr. Forshey practiced veterinary medicine for 27 years, with an interest in swine production, and has served on several major swine health manufacturer advisory boards including Elanco Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, Newport Laboratories and Schering Plough. For the past 10 years, Dr. Forshey has been as an adjunct associate professor at The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He also serves as vice chair of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board; co-chair of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Swine Subcommittee to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. In 2010, Dr. Forshey received the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the Year Award. From November 2011 through February 2012, Dr. Forshey was Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Ohio 4-H alumnus Bob Saum reflected on that as he gets organized to head to Kabul on May 1, when he becomes the country director of the World Bank for Afghanistan and Bhutan.

Saum, 49, grew up in a 4-H family in Auglaize County in northwest Ohio. His parents were 4-H advisors from before he can remember. His late father, William, was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame in 1998, and his mother, Anna Mae Saum, still a 4-H club advisor after 48 years, received the Meritorious Service Award from Ohio 4-H in March. Along with Saum, two brothers also were longtime 4-H members.

“I think participating in 4-H opens people up to new ideas and new opportunities,” Saum said from his Washington, D.C., office, where he is currently advisor to the managing director of the World Bank.

“For example, I was one of the first boys taking food and nutrition projects in the early to mid-1970s, and I got the statewide food and nutrition award at the Ohio State Fair. I was able, and encouraged, to do nontraditional things, and I was exposed to others who were doing equally interesting things.”

In addition, the public speaking and leadership opportunities so prevalent in 4-H laid a solid groundwork for the type of work he does today.

“Whether it’s participating in the safety speech contest or conducting demonstrations at county, regional or state level, 4-H offers excellent opportunities to develop skills and aspire to what you see older members doing. And members are encouraged to take on leadership roles, from running a meeting or leading an activity at camp,” said Saum, who will be leading a staff of 75 when he takes on his new role.

“More broadly, 4-H fosters a commitment to working with others and to serve,” Saum said. “Whether it’s working with a team in your local club or at the fair, or working with others in community service projects, 4-H instills the benefits of service.”

Saum got his first taste of international work after graduating from the University of Dayton and starting his career with the public accounting firm Ernst and Young, first in Dayton and then in London, England. After earning a master’s degree at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, he worked for several nonprofit organizations, including the Mercy Corps in Pakistan, where he worked with Afghan refugees. He also worked on projects in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Kenya, and for a time was the East Jerusalem administrator for a Palestinian hospital.

In 1998, Saum joined the World Bank with a focus on accountability and public sector financial management, primarily working in south Asia, spending a year in the World Bank’s New Delhi office. He participated in one of the World Bank’s first visits to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban in 2002.

“I think that 4-H is a place that people, both children and adults, can help youth find themselves, to find out what they have to offer and what opportunities in the world may be available to them — and to develop the skills to go after those opportunities,” Saum said.

Ohio grower Jason Davis (third from left), winner of the Kixor® herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes, was joined by his BASF business representative, retailer and guests for the 54th running of "The Great American Race." (photo courtesy of BASF)

BASF Crop Protection today announced that Jason Davis was the winner of the Kixor®herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes, which highlighted the fast, complete burndown and residual weed control growers get with Kixor.

Davis primarily farms corn and soybeans in Hillsboro, Ohio, about 60 miles east of Cincinnati. He said he uses Sharpen® herbicide, powered byKixor, to help control his tough weeds.

“We have heavy marestail pressure on our farm, so I used a fair amount of Sharpen last spring,” Davis said. “It’s a good product and always works well.”

With the win, he and three guests of his choosing received tickets to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500®, as well as an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida. The prestigious DAYTONA 500®, which was run on Feb. 27 after the first rain delay in its history, is considered “The Great American Race” and featured 43 of the world’s top drivers.

“We had a real nice trip, and it was a real fine race,” Davis said afterward.

Ten other entrants in the sweepstakes received $100 gift cards.

“These sweepstakes have been an opportunity to highlight how products powered by Kixor herbicide technology help control tough weeds including glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed and waterhemp,” said Bryan Perry, Soybean Market Manager, BASF. “We’re proud to celebrate the wayKixor – with a burndown that’s three to five times faster than 2,4-D or glyphosate, plus strong residual staying power – helps growers win the race against weeds in their fields.”

The sweepstakes were open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more.