Buckeye People

By Matt Reese

Last spring, my family had the opportunity to meet the first ever Ohio Wool Queen, Elaine Leightey, and her husband Franklin, from Upper Sandusky. Leightey was crowned in 1955 as the first queen. It was fun for my wife to meet Mrs. Leightey because Kristin was the Ohio Lamb and Wool Queen in 1999 and is the current coordinator for the contest. Our daughter Campbell was extremely excited to meet the “Queen” and has royal aspirations as well, with hopes of one day being a Lamb and Wool Queen herself. All in all, it was a very royal afternoon.

Here are some very queenly photos and more about Leightey and the queen tradition she started. At the Ohio State Fair this weekend, 2010-2011 Ohio Lamb and Wool Queen Morgan Senath Melvin crowned Meghan Bennett, from Shelby County, as the next recipient of this honor. Judges at the Ohio State Fair will select the queen on Sunday, July 31 based on an application, interview and their answer to an impromptu question from a panel of judges live at the conclusion of the Guys and Gals lead competition.… Continue reading

By Matt Reese

Last spring, my family had the opportunity to meet the first ever Ohio Wool Queen, Elaine Leightey, and her husband Franklin, from Upper Sandusky. Leightey was crowned in 1955 as the first queen. It was fun for my wife to meet Mrs. Leightey because Kristin was the Ohio Lamb and Wool Queen in 1999 and is the current coordinator for the contest. Our daughter Campbell was extremely excited to meet the “Queen” and has royal aspirations as well, with hopes of one day being a Lamb and Wool Queen herself. All in all, it was a very royal afternoon.

Here are some very queenly photos and more about Leightey and the queen tradition she started. At the Ohio State Fair this weekend, 2010-2011 Ohio Lamb and Wool Queen Morgan Senath Melvin crowned Meghan Bennett, from Shelby County, as the next recipient of this honor. Judges at the Ohio State Fair will select the queen on Sunday, July 31 based on an application, interview and their answer to an impromptu question from a panel of judges live at the conclusion of the Guys and Gals lead competition.… Continue reading

Ohio State University’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering has a new department chair.

Scott A. Shearer began his duties July 1. A native of Tipp City, Ohio, and an alumnus of the department, he most recently served as professor and chair of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on precision agriculture technologies.

“We have an extremely strong program here at Ohio State, and I’m looking forward to finding ways to make it even stronger,” Shearer said. “Our profession has the expertise to address many of the problems facing society when it comes to meeting both food and energy needs in an environmentally conscious and sustainable manner. To do this will require that we continue to attract the best and brightest students to our discipline.”

The department is part of two colleges at Ohio State — the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), and the College of Engineering.… Continue reading

Ohio State University’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering has a new department chair.

Scott A. Shearer began his duties July 1. A native of Tipp City, Ohio, and an alumnus of the department, he most recently served as professor and chair of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on precision agriculture technologies.

“We have an extremely strong program here at Ohio State, and I’m looking forward to finding ways to make it even stronger,” Shearer said. “Our profession has the expertise to address many of the problems facing society when it comes to meeting both food and energy needs in an environmentally conscious and sustainable manner. To do this will require that we continue to attract the best and brightest students to our discipline.”

The department is part of two colleges at Ohio State — the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), and the College of Engineering.… Continue reading

Three Ohio youth were part of the 40-member class for the second Jersey Youth Academy, July 17 to 22 in Columbus.

“Building upon AJCA programs initiated over 50 years ago, the Jersey Youth Academy is an in-depth educational program focused specifically on the Jersey cow and the Jersey business,” said David Chamberlain, president of the American Jersey Cattle Association. “At the same time, Academy challenges its participants to explore the broad range of career opportunities involving Jerseys and the dairy industry.

The Ohio participants in the second Jersey Youth Academy were: Kira Andre, Wauseon; William D. Grammer, Sebring; and Erin Williams, McConnelsville.

Selection was based on merit, motivation and preparation for the program as reflected in the written application and goal statement. Applications were reviewed by a committee appointed by Chamberlain and chaired by AJCA Director James Quist. All program costs, including round-trip transportation for participants, were paid by the Academy.… Continue reading

Anna Hall, Williamsburg, has been selected as the 2011 beef-sire marketing intern for Select Sires Inc. Her job responsibilities at Select Sires will include assisting with promotional projects, preparation of promotional materials and obtaining information for the beef website.

Hall is a senior at Ohio State University pursuing a bachelor’s in agricultural communication with a minor in animal science. Hall has an extensive 4-H and FFA background, including a year serving as the Ohio FFA state secretary and receiving her American FFA Degree. Prior to joining Select Sires, Hall worked as a loss control intern with Nationwide Agribusiness and a farm hand on Van Scoy Farms in Ridgeway. Currently, she is also a public policy intern with the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

Based in Plain City, Select Sires Inc., is North America’s largest A.I. organization and is comprised of 10 farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives.… Continue reading