Looking back on the past year, we covered a wide range of timely topics and emerging trends, along with several story-driven pieces that informed, challenged and resonated with readers. Over the next week, we’ll be revisiting a mix of both, including some of our top-performing videos and feature stories.
One of our most-read stories of the year was written by Leisa Boley-Hellwarth, an agricultural attorney and long-time contributor to the Legal Lingo column in Ohio’s Country Journal and online. Her piece recapped a landmark legal battle in New Jersey, where two brothers fought eminent domain claims threatening their 175-year-old family farm. Good news: it had a happy ending!
Looking back on the past year, we covered many timely topics and emerging trends, along with several story-driven pieces that were both informative and engaging. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be revisiting a mix of both, including some of our top-performing videos and feature stories.
For our first post, let’s take a look back to a video produced by Joel Penhorwood featuring an Ohio yak farmer. Join Ohio Ag Net’s Joel Penhorwood as he visits Covered Bridge Yaks in Union County, where Blake Mathys and his family are raising yaks—a versatile livestock that thrive in Ohio’s winter weather. We dive into how these animals, originally from the Himalayan region, are raised for their lean, nutritious meat and soft, valuable fiber.
What would you do if you were fortunate enough to win the lottery? Would you spend the money right away? If so, on what? Would you share your winnings with family and friends? Make charitable donations? Invest?
As of Dec. 16, no one had matched all the numbers in the Powerball jackpot, which now stands at an estimated $1.15 billion. The lump-sum payout is estimated at $524.7 million. The odds of winning are 1 in 292.2 million.
I would venture to say many winners would purchase a luxurious home or an expensive vehicle. In theory, those are wonderful indulgences. Still, I often wonder why someone needs 32 bathrooms or 20 bedrooms. One can only imagine the logistics of hosting gatherings of that size. As for vehicles, how large does an SUV or truck really need to be?
Would you take a vacation to a tropical island paradise, visit a snowy winter wonderland, or take a scenic cruise?… Continue reading
Leave it to a bunch of lawyers to take a happy term like “gift” and turn it into a discussion of elements, intent, and tax consequences.
Attorneys settled on the following legal definition for gift: a voluntary transfer of property without consideration, meaning the recipient does not give anything in return. For a gift to be legally valid, three elements are generally required: the intent to give; the delivery of the property; and the acceptance of the property by the recipient. Once a gift is “completed” — meaning the donor has given up all dominion and control of the property — it generally cannot be revoked by the giver.
The three elements are delineated as follows.
Donative intent. The donor must have a clear, present intention to permanently transfer ownership (dominion and control) of the property to the donee. A promise to make a gift in the future is generally not legally enforceable.
Ohio’s fur trapping season is underway with more to come as the statewide seasons for beaver and river otter open December 26. Trapping for fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum, weasel, and mink has been legal since November 10.
Some 11,000 fur taker permits were issued last year, about half the number of permits sold in 2009. The most popular counties for trapping were Putnam with 290 permits, Wayne with 282, and Holmes with 232 fur taker permits tendered.
The most recent fur auction organized by the Ohio State Trappers Association last March saw 635 pelts trading hands for a total of $24,275.55, or an average of $3.94 per pelt. At the lower end of the pay scale, possums brought an average of $.91 per pelt, squirrels $1.25, and raccoons $2.74.
Otter pelts, on the other hand, fetched an average of $33.21, followed by $21 paid per gray fox on average; skunk pelts brought $6.41, and red fox pelts sold for an average of $13.06.… Continue reading
Ohio Farm Bureau recently presented four members with the inaugural County Leader of Distinction Award. This award recognizes deserving members who have had an indelible and lasting impact on both their county Farm Bureau and local community.
The 2025 recipients are Fred Cooke (posthumous) of Richland County, Marvin Dietsch of Williams County, Steven Knollman of Hamilton County and Michele Miller (posthumous) of Ottawa County.
Fred Cooke of Richland County
Cooke dedicated his life to youth, agriculture and Farm Bureau. A 50-year Farm Bureau member, he served on the Richland County Farm Bureau board from 2004 through his passing in 2023, including three years as county president, and contributed to numerous membership campaigns and committee work.
He played a key role in launching the Richland County Farmers Share Breakfast, raising $20,000 over 16 years, and was integral to starting Farm to Plate, which was a community Farm Bureau program at the Shelby Farmers Market teaching community members to cook with fresh food.… Continue reading
In a room tucked away inside the Logan County home of Greg Shipley, an unassuming little arrowhead sits on display. Shipley picks it up with a smile.
“All it took was finding this in a plowed field when I was six years old,” he said. “Even though there weren’t any Vikings or Romans or Egyptians or Greeks – which were fascinating to me as a little boy – I realized I could find ancient things right on our family property.”
Then, as if through some magic spell, the little arrowhead is suddenly dwarfed by the rest of the room. Cases and cases, trays and boxes – every imaginable space is filled with pieces of Ohio and American history. Arrowheads. Mississippian pottery. Pieces of Spanish silver. Brass trade goods. Thousands of items, many of which are from Ohio’s farm fields, all found by Greg Shipley.
In this week’s Ohio Ag Net podcast, Dale Minyo and Ty Higgins visit with leaders of two Ohio agriculture organizations. Ty talks with Bill Patterson, president of Ohio Farm Bureau, about how the Ohio Farm Bureau’s recent annual meeting was a great opportunity to celebrate the successes of 2025, while working on policies to take on the challenges that lie ahead in 2026 and beyond. Later in the episode, Dale meets with the new president of Ohio Corn and Wheat, Eric Tipton, about his path to leadership and the goals his association has as he begins his new role.
I want to tell readers about a unique individual who passed away years ago but was a hero to me and many others. When he was alive, he was the ultimate “live life to the fullest” kind of guy. He was the lead pharmacist at a small downtown pharmacy in Urbana, Ohio, with a sincere, dedicated attitude toward his responsibilities, his customers, his spiritual life, and his community.
The best way to describe him is simply to share a few stories. He passed away in the 90s from liver cancer, and right up to the end he lived his faith, good deeds, and humor.
A married lady once had a prescription for birth control pills. He typically filled it each quarter. One time she arrived late and found the pharmacy closed. At home, she noticed the after-hours emergency number and left a message explaining she needed her medication.… Continue reading
Ohio Farm Bureau held its 107th Annual Meeting Dec. 11-12 in Columbus. Nearly 340 delegates from all 88 Ohio counties established the organization’s policy goals for the coming year, recognized county Farm Bureau and individual achievements and honored industry leaders.
The following Ohio Farm Bureau members were elected as officers during the organization’s 107th Annual Meeting:
Bill Patterson of Chesterland has been re-elected president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, which is the highest elected office in the state’s largest farm and food organization. Patterson has been on the state board since 2011 as District 4 trustee representing Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties.
Cy Prettyman of New Bloomington has been re-elected first vice president of the organization. He joined OFBF’s board of trustees in 2012. He will continue as the District 7 representative covering Crawford, Marion, Morrow and Richland counties.
If you spend any time in the sheep barn at the Great Darke County Fair, you probably already know Robert and Donna Peters. And if you don’t, you’ve certainly felt their influence in the sheep, the shows, and the young people they’ve supported for more than half a century.
This year, the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) and the Ohio Sheep and Wool Program (OSWP) recognized Robert, known to most as Bob, and Donna with the 2025 Charles Boyles Master Shepherd Award, the highest honor in Ohio’s sheep industry.
On their Dawn-area farm where Bob grew up, the couple reflected on a lifetime rooted in the same place. “We’ve lived here over 55 years,” Bob said. “My parents, my grandparents — all here. We go to bed at Dawn. We get up at Dawn. I’ve lived here all my life, and it’s been a happy life.”
Donna, who grew up in nearby Coldwater, agreed, “We raised our four children here and a lot of sheep.… Continue reading
Even in prehistoric times, recipes for tasty treats such as “gravel-berry pie,” “upside down Flint-Rubble Bubble Cake” or “giant meat leg” were being carved on a stone tablet. (This is fact-checked from my younger years watching The Flintstones.) From Sunday school church favorites to Betty Crocker’s The Joy of Cooking: cookbooks have been around since well… the Stone Age.
Cookbooks tell us what we need, how much, and the know-how in the kitchen to create new flavors for old favorites. The food cultures in these books share insights into communities, ethnicities, regionalities, and favorites. They can be a way to pass not only food but also culture to the next generation. In the age of ChatGPT, AI, TikTok, recipe apps, and recipes at your fingertips, is there a need for cookbooks? I believe there is. Cookbooks provide so much more than a bunch of instructions all wrapped up in a pretty package.… Continue reading
During the announcement of a $12 billion farmer aid package earlier this week, President Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and met with farmers and other key national leaders in the Cabinet Room and in the Oval Office at the White House. Ohio Farm Bureau Treasurer Adele Flynn (4th from the left) participated in the meeting, representing Ohio farmers. She tells Ohio Ag Net’s Ty Higgins about her experience.
By Matt Burkholder, Farmer Advocate for Conservation
As the American farmer continues to age, is the younger generation interested in continuing the tradition? Are the older farmers willing to help the younger generation?
I grew up on a small farm in Northwest Ohio. I knew from the age of five that I wanted to farm. I’ve never been given a farm or a bunch of cash, but my parents have given me all the help in the world. As a result, I have learned the importance of work ethic from a young age.
As I travel and talk with older farmers, there is one thing in common. Family has always helped the family. Many active farmers today started with a small tractor and possibly a few horses to complete farm tasks. Farmers begin to retire and consider renting their farm. Why do they often contact traditional farmers? Why don’t they contact a farmer with a young family?… Continue reading
As 2025 draws to a close and we enter meteorological winter (December – February), let us assess current conditions around the state. According to the latestU.S. Drought Monitor Report, drought is still very much present across northwest Ohio (Figure 1). Approximately 17% of Ohio is in drought (D1-D3), with just over 8% in D3 (extreme drought). Even though many of the agricultural drought indicators we rely on to monitor drought throughout the growing season have diminished, the hydrologic (water-related) impacts remain. Precipitation deficits over the last 180 days (June 3 – November 29) are 9 to 12 inches below normal in far northern Mercer, Van Wert, southern Paulding, and southern Henry Counties. This has led to persistently low soil moisture in the top 8 inches of the profile and to significantly low levels in rivers, streams, ponds, and reservoirs across the hardest-hit areas.… Continue reading
In tractor pulling lore, husband and wife team Ken and Rona Veney are known not only for their wins, but also their pre-pulling tradition. For many years, Rona has helped Ken back his tractor into place before running down to the other end of the track and hyping the crowd up in the process.
The story of how the tradition got started has unique roots, and Ken tells us more in this bonus clip from our full story with the racing legend.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has released the official dates for the 2026 fair season, which includes Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair.
The Paulding County Fair will kick off the 2026 fair season on June 6, and the season will wrap up on October 17 with the Fairfield County Fair.
“Ohio’s county and independent fairs are an important part of Ohio’s agricultural heritage and play a critical role in supporting youth leadership programs, like 4H and FFA,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “When people attend the fair, they are supporting their local community, the agriculture industry, and our next generation of responsible food producers.”… Continue reading
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” is a saying that seemed especially relevant on Dec. 8 when a group of eight farmers from across the country participated in a round table discussion with President Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and other key national leaders in the cabinet room and in the Oval Office at the White House. Ohio Farm Bureau Treasurer Adele Flynn participated in the meeting, representing Ohio farmers.
The meeting was part of the announcement of the $12 billion aid package to provide financial relief and an economic bridge for America’s farmers and ranchers. While the bridge payments are an important economic lifeline for the agriculture economy, it’s not the only story from that meeting.
Another important element of the two-hour meeting with the president that may be easily overlooked was the critical discussion on many long-term solutions to stabilize the farm economy, such as:
The importance of year-round E15 (unlimited 88 at the gas pump);
Kenyon College is the only university in the United States with their own land conservancy. The Philander Chase Conservancy was established in 2000 to protect the agricultural and natural landscape surrounding the university in Gambier. Today the Philander Chase Conservancy has protected more than 6,000 acres within a five-mile radius of the college. This includes 29 conservation easements and 21 agricultural easements.
Amy Henricksen, director of the Philander Chase Conservancy, said, “We want people to know that this landscape doesn’t happen by accident.”
The Ross County Jr. Fair Board collected 122,640 pounds of food to support families in rural Ohio, setting a new statewide record in Farm Credit’s Fight the Hunger Stock the Trailer program.
In this special video fit for the season, Ohio Ag Net’s Dale Minyo talks with Farm Credit Mid-America staff, youth organizers, and food pantry leadership about the rural assistance the young people of Ross County are making happen.… Continue reading
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