Matt Reese – Page 23 – Ohio Ag Net

Matt Reese

I grew up on a small farm in northwest Ohio and spent most of my youth writing, doodling, taking pictures, reading and exploring the surrounding farmland. With a family full of teachers, I also grew up around a culture supportive of education. I was active in athletics in high school before graduating from Ohio State University where I studied agricultural communications. This led to my career in agricultural journalism.

I continue to work on the family Christmas tree farm in Hancock County. My wife, Jenna, and I live on a small farm in Fairfield County with sheep, rabbits and chickens. I have a daughter, Campbell, and a son, Parker. We are active in our local church and with numerous other organizations.

More run-ins with HSUS

June 28, 2010 Matt Reese 0

We have had a lot of great comments since I posted Lori’s tale in “Moon over Licking County” from others who have had run-ins with HSUS paid signature gatherers. I have heard about incidents at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Fairfield County, public libraries, gas stations and even the Bellevue Community Days festival. Police were called in some cases, but there have been no arrests and only civil (though sometimes heated) confrontations. Thanks for standing up for what is right in your communities and for all of your great stories (see some below). Unfortunately, it sounds as if HSUS has probably gotten their necessary number of signatures for an issue on the November ballot.

From Kim Lemmon, OCJ managing editor:

So this time it is not a second hand story. I was approached today – Friday, June 25 – at the Mt. Gilead, Ohio Kroger Fuel Pump by an HSUS signature collector.… Continue reading

Reese family at OBX

June 20, 2010 Blogs, Matt Reese 0

We were at the Outer Banks for a family trip over the weekend which, I learned, is abbreviated OBX by those in the know. We got to go to the beach and fly kites near Kitty Hawk, NC. Here are some photos.

Moon over Licking County

June 16, 2010 Matt Reese 9

Country Crossroads by Matt Reese

The moon was out just after mid-day in Licking County last month after Lori Lawrence, an OCJ marketing specialist, confronted some signature gatherers at a Licking County Kroger.

Lori was leaving the store after getting some groceries when she spotted the two male 20-something paid signature gatherers roaming the parking lot. They were trying to drum up support for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) ballot measure this fall.

The group needs 402,275 valid signatures by June 29, which means they will likely need over 500,000 actual signatures, to have enough legitimate names on the list to get their measure on the ballot in Ohio. The group was off to a surprisingly slow start earlier this spring with signature numbers that were far below what HSUS was hoping for.

To remedy the problem, HSUS sued the state of Ohio over a statute that was written to make sure only Ohioans could gather signatures to change state laws.… Continue reading