Buckeye People

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.… Continue reading

Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director David Daniels today announced several new appointments to the department’s senior management team: Howard Wise, assistant director; Michael Bailey and Janelle Mead, deputy directors; Denise Franz King, executive director of the Office of Farmland Preservation; Traci Orahood, human resources chief; Erica Pitchford, communications director; and Erin Honnold and George McNab, legislative liaisons.

“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. … Continue reading

Dr. Tony Forshey, Chief of Animal Health and State Veterinarian for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, received  the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s prestigious Chairman’s Award during the organization’s annual conference, March 27-28, in Denver. The Chairman’s Award is given to an outstanding volunteer for his unselfish dedication and tireless devotion to the advancement of animal agriculture.

“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.… Continue reading

With a start in 4-H, you never know where you might go.

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.… Continue reading

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.… Continue reading

By Matt Reese

The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association (OCWGA) proudly announces that Tadd Nicholson will be serving as the new executive director. In his new role, he will also manage two of Ohio’s check-off programs, the Ohio Corn Marketing Program (OCMP) and the Ohio Small Grains Marketing Program (OSGMP).
Nicholson has 19 years of experience as part of the Ohio agriculture industry and has served

OCWGA for eight years, previously as its director of government and industry affairs and most recently as its interim executive director.

“I look forward to extending my role for OCWGA because I really believe in its purpose and mission,” Nicholson said. “We represent the best interests of Ohio’s grain farmers and I’m going to work to ensure that our organization’s legacy continues to be successful.”

Nicholson will jump right into his new duties by addressing a number of important issues for Ohio’s corn and wheat growers.… Continue reading

Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) has selected Shauna R. Brummet as president and executive director of its BioHio Research Park in northeast Ohio. She will begin her position in April.

Brummet will be responsible for operations, development and recruitment of tenants for BioHio — a first-in-the-state business and technology center aimed at advancing the growing and promising field of agricultural biosciences, which includes high-impact areas such as renewable energy and materials, food safety, genetic crop improvement and environmental remediation.

“We are very excited to be able to attract Shauna Brummet to this position,” said OARDC Director Steve Slack. “We conducted a national search, which attracted many outstanding and talented candidates. Shauna emerged as our first choice because she has a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur working with multiple corporations in multiple settings, and because she presented a compelling vision of where she saw the BioHio Research Park going and growing.”… Continue reading

Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler announced that Bill Tom of Spring Valley has been selected as the director for the Ohio State Fair beef department and that several changes are slated for the 2012 show.

Tom is currently employed by Cargill AgHorizons as the General Manager and Farm Service Group leader for the greater Ohio region. Tom was raised on a beef farm in southeastern Ohio and has actively shown cattle across the United States within his past career positions. A graduate of The Ohio State University with an animal science degree, Tom has extensive experience in the beef industry, animal nutrition and general agriculture.

Heifer division changes
Strickler also announced that four additional heifer divisions, Lim-Flex, MaineTainer, ShorthornPlus and Percentage Simmental, will be eligible to compete in the supreme champion beef breeding female competition on Saturday, Aug. 4 prior to the selection of the grand champion market animal, a notable achievement in the breeding industry paying premiums of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, $500 for third place, $300 for fourth place and $200 for fifth place.… Continue reading

The Ohio CCA Board is proud to announce the winner of the 2012 Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award is Mike Dailey, independent consultant from Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Dailey was named the winner

on March 6 at the Conservation Tillage Conference in Ada.

The CCA of the Year Award is a state award designed to recognize an individual who is highly motivated, delivers exceptional customer service for farmer clients in nutrient management, soil and water management, integrated pest management and crop production, and has contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agricultural industry in Ohio.

Dailey has contributed to the growth and development of countless CCA’s over the years, as well as helping his farmer clients to thrive and prosper with their businesses by making his recommendations based on science and fact. Dailey has taught Sunday School, volunteered as agricultural educator at Kenyon College Environmental Center, and served as former chairman of the CCA board.… Continue reading

Ohio’s pork industry was well represented at the National Pork Industry Forum in Denver, CO, March 1-3. Two Ohio pork producers were nominated to serve as

leaders on the board of directors for the National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council.

Pork Act Delegates, meeting at the National Pork Industry Forum, ranked eight candidates for the National Pork Board and submitted the list to the U.S. secretary of agriculture. Among the list of candidates is Carl Link of Fort Recovery. Link represents the Ohio Pork Producers Council through his participation in the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Environmental Permitting Program.

Additionally, Randy Brown of Nevada, OH was recognized for his service to the National Pork Board. Brown served six years on the National Pork Board, where he was active on many committees including serving as chairman of the Environmental Steward sub-committee.

At the National Pork Producers Council’s annual business meeting, also held at the National Pork Industry Forum, elections were held for new officers and members to the board of directors.  … Continue reading

The National Pork Board today honored four farm families as recipients of the 2011 Pork Industry Environmental Stewards Award at the annual National Pork Industry Forum being held here. The award, now in its 18th year, recognizes producers who demonstrate a firm commitment to safeguarding the environment and their local communities.

One of the 2011 Award receipients was Wuebker Farms – Versailles, Ohio — Jeff and Alan Wuebker raise nearly 43,000 weaned pigs per year on their diversified farming operation near Versailles, Ohio. The brothers, together with their families and employees, tend to not only the pigs, but to about 50 head of dairy beef cattle and more than 1,200 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa.
Cleveland Pork – Elysburg, Pa. — Joel and Sarah Knoebel, together with Joel’s father and brother, produce feeder-to-finish pigs in their 4,400-head, tunnel-ventilated building on the 500 acres they farm near Elysburg, Pa. The couple has started a scholarship at the local high school to help students who wish to pursue an agricultural career.… Continue reading

State Executive Director for Ohio’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Steve Maurer, announced four new County Executive Directors (CEDs) have been selected.  They officially began February 27, in their new office.

·         Dave Echols was selected for the Portage/Summit county FSA office.
·         Latham Farley was selected for the Scioto/Pike county FSA office.
·         Jill Ritchie was selected for the Columbiana/Mahoning county FSA office.
·         Charlotte Schmachtenberger was selected for the Clermont county FSA office.

At the tractor pulls at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show three Ohio drivers won their classes.

On Thursday evening in the 6,200-pound 2-WD Super Modified Truck class Jeff Whitsel of Orient won with At It Again pulling 239.56. In the 9,300-pound Super Farm Tractors with a pull of 246.20, Julia Conny of Beloit took first place honors with Mac Daddy. They were each awarded $2,000 in prize money and a trophy.

On Saturday night Danny Schmucker of Louisville won the 10,200-pound Pro Stock Tractor Class with Rampage with a full pull of 248.15. He was awarded $4,200 and a crystal cup.

Others from Ohio placed well, which you can see in the complete results.… Continue reading

Two Ohioans will testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee during a hearing on energy and rural development on Feb. 15, entitled “Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America.”U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee who will hear testimony from Mark Rembert, co-director of Energize Clinton County and director of the Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, and Chuck Fluharty of Smithfield, President and CEO of the Rural Policy Research Institute and Professor at the Truman School of Public Affairs.

“Agriculture and energy innovation are as natural to Ohio as the cardinal and buckeye,” Brown, chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy, said. “That’s why new efforts to grow Ohio’s clean energy industry in rural areas are a boon not only to our economy, but also to our commitment to create new jobs. Developing biofuels will empower Ohio communities to lead the innovation and energy independence that America needs to out-compete the rest of the world.”… Continue reading

State Executive Director for Ohio’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Steve Maurer, would like to announce Matt Kleski has been selected as the Key Agricultural Program Specialist for the Production Adjustment, Compliance and Risk Management Section in Ohio at FSA’s State office.  Matt will serve as the Key Agricultural Program Specialist to manage and direct the administration of disaster assistance programs, payment eligibility and limitations, compliance and risk management programs.  Matt replaces Rick Borland who retired as the FSA Production Adjustment, Compliance and Risk Management Program Chief in December 2011.  Matt began his new duties on February 13, 2012.

Matt graduated from The Ohio State University in 2001 with a B.S. Degree in Agriculture with a major in Animal Science and a minor in Agribusiness and Applied Economics.  Upon graduation, he was employed as the Director of Communications and Promotions for the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio Beef Council. In 2004, he graduated from West Virginia University with a Master’s Degree in Agricultural and Environmental Education, where he also worked for WVU Extension, Risk Management.… Continue reading

As part of his new role as chair of Ohio State University’s Department of Animals Sciences, Ronald S. Kensinger plans to create new partnerships, boost the department’s fundraising efforts and increase the amount of access to hands-on research opportunities for students.

“I want to engage stakeholders to come to an agreement to build state-of-the-art, hands-on, research opportunities so that when students graduate they’ll be ready to help businesses here in Ohio continue to excel in the future,” he said. “We have an extremely strong animal sciences program here at Ohio State, and I’m looking forward to finding ways to make it even stronger.”

Kensinger began his duties Jan. 1. He most recently served as professor and head of the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University, where he helped raise $1.6 million in new endowed student scholarships. He also helped raise funds for six endowed chairs or professorships for the department during his four-year tenure.… Continue reading

Matt Reese has been named the editor of Ohio’s Country Journal.

Reese has been with Ohio’s Country Journal since 1999, working in a variety of capacities including writing,

photography, editing, and managing web content. Reese has a Bachelor of Science in the field of Agricultural Communications and a Master of Science in the field of Agricultural Education from The Ohio State University.

“Matt has been a real asset during his time with us,” said Bart Johnson, the publisher and owner. “We hired him right out of college and I have watched him grow and mature in this industry. I am very excited about the future of Ohio’s Country Journal under the leadership of Matt Reese.”

At a time in Ohio agriculture when the future has never been brighter, the entire staff at Ohio’s Country Journal is poised to deliver the latest news through print, e-mail and online sources in an effort to best serve Ohio agriculture.… Continue reading

Matt Reese has been named the editor of Ohio’s Country Journal.

Reese has been with Ohio’s Country Journal since 1999, working in a variety of capacities including writing,

photography, editing, and managing web content. Reese has a Bachelor of Science in the field of Agricultural Communications and a Master of Science in the field of Agricultural Education from The Ohio State University.

“Matt has been a real asset during his time with us,” said Bart Johnson, the publisher and owner. “We hired him right out of college and I have watched him grow and mature in this industry. I am very excited about the future of Ohio’s Country Journal under the leadership of Matt Reese.”

At a time in Ohio agriculture when the future has never been brighter, the entire staff at Ohio’s Country Journal is poised to deliver the latest news through print, e-mail and online sources in an effort to best serve Ohio agriculture.… Continue reading

Integrated Ag Services (IAS), an agronomic services consulting firm based in Milford Center, Ohio, announced today the addition of Grant Davis to its Crop Advising Team.

Davis’ primary responsibility will be to provide agronomic consulting services to IAS’ northeast territory and help introduce more farmers to IAS and its family of products and services in western Champaign and eastern Miami counties. 

“Grant’s training as an educator will help him serve our customers in a unique way,” said David Scheiderer, owner of IAS. “He has solid experience in the fertilizer and seed industry. When combined with Grant’s ability to break down information to teach our clients about what they need and how to best use their resources, he is going to be an incredible asset to our farmers.” 

Davis received his B.S. in Agriculture Education from the Ohio State University in 2006. After graduation, he took a job with Bambauer Fertilizer and Seed and, a year later, began working with Monsanto as a research assistant in the Corn Breeding program.… Continue reading

American Agri-Women (AAW) recently elected officers at the group’s 36th annual convention in Wichita, Kan. Ohio’s Peggy Clark, Dayton, was elected treasurer.

AAW is a national coalition of more than 40,000 farm, ranch and agribusiness women, representing 60 state and commodity affiliates. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers; advocate for agriculture; and provide networking and professional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.americanagriwomen.org.… Continue reading