ACEL Weekly Update – July 29, 2016

Upcoming Events

August 23 – First day of Classes
August 30 – ACEL Ice Cream Social
September 1 – CFAES Back to School Bash

News

On our website

On our Blog

ACEL In the News
Sydney Snider, agricultural communication student, Snider awarded scholarship
Lea Kimley, agricultural communication student, Find out who are the 2016 Clark County Fair queen candidates
Lea Kimley, agricultural communication student, Southeastern High grad named 2016 fair queen
Amanda Bush, agricultural communication student, Mount Gilead student joins Ohio State study abroad trip to Honduras
Carley Snider, agriscience education student, Moscow’s Snider to complete internship with The Fatted Calf
Katelyn Deaton, agriscience education student, Deaton awarded agriscience education scholarship
Ryan Vonderhaar, agricultural communication student, Vonderhaar awarded agricultural communication scholarship
Emily Starlin, agriscience education student, Logan native travels to Honduras on service study trip
Emily Wickham, staff, Local OSU student studies in Honduras
Ericka Priest, agriscience education alum, Getting to know… a first year Ag teacher, Ericka Priest
Aaron Miller, agriscience education alum, Helping Teachers TeachInternship Sharing
Share with the Department where you are interning this summer. Our office will be sharing features throughout the summer on our website about what our students are doing! http://acel.osu.edu/node/33

National Teach Ag Day Collegiate Commercial Contest
One of the first things someone needs in order to teach agriculture is a degree in agricultural education. The National Teach Ag Day Collegiate Commercial Contest provides college students the opportunity to promote their respective college or university and agricultural education program through a 20-30 second commercial. Click here for more information. (If you are interested in doing this for Ohio State, please let Emily know, as each university can only submit one video!)

Internship and Job Opportunities

Internship Openings
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association – Intern (Lexington, Kentucky)
Make A Wish Georgia – Internships (Atlanta, Georgia)
Make A Wish – Communication Intern (Phoenix, Arizona)
Make A Wish – National Events and Brand Campaigns Intern (Phoenix, Arizona)
Make A Wish – Marketing Intern (Phoenix, Arizona)
Make A Wish – Copywriting Intern (Phoenix, Arizona)
Make A Wish –
Tyson Foods – Corporate Identity Internship (Springdale, Arkansas)

Full-Time Job Openings

A Kid Again – Executive Director (Columbus, Ohio)
American Farm Bureau – Digital Media Specialist (Columbus, Ohio)
Center for Powerful Public Schools – Communication and Social Media Specialist(Los Angeles, California)
Cleveland MetroParks – Director of Communications (Cleveland, Ohio)
Experience Columbus – Marketing Director (Columbus, Ohio)
Farmer Veteran Coalition of New York – Membership Coordinator (Mid Hudson Valley, New York)
Flying Horse Farms – Event Manager (Mt. Gilled, Ohio)
Franklin County Board of Commissioners – Community Partnerships Coordinator(Columbus, Ohio)
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District – Administrative Assistant (Columbus, Ohio)
Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens – Volunteer Coordinator (Birmingham, Alabama)
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta – Marketing Manager (Atlanta, Georgia)
Girl Scouts – Communications Associate (New York, New York)
Girl Scouts – Community Outreach Manager (Rock Island, Illinois)
Girl Scouts – Volunteer Learning Specialist (Waltham, Massachusetts)
Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone – Hilltop Teen Club Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Kent State University – PR and Marketing Communications Coordinator (Kent, Ohio)
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association – Communications Manager (Lexington, Kentucky)
Kiwanis – Public Relations Specialist (Indianapolis, Indiana)
National Corn Growers Association – Soil Health Partnership Program Coordinator (Chesterfield, Missouri)
Ohio State, Student Life – Marketing Specialist (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Advancement – Event Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Development Events – Event Manager (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Chemistry and Biochemistry – Coordinator, Student Programs(Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Greek Life – Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Communications Administration – Writer (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Dance – Communications Specialist (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Undergrad Admissions – Program Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Vet Medicine – Coordinator, educational programs (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio University, Chillicothe – Coordinator of Communications and Marketing(Chillicothe, Ohio)
Southern Regional Education Board – Communication Specialist (Atlanta, Georgia)
State of Ohio, Lottery Commission – Video Content Coordinator (Cuyahoga County, Ohio)
Tyson Foods – Community Relations Manager (Springdale, Arkansas)
Weaver Leather – Online Marketing Associate (Mount Hope, Ohio)
Western Horseman – Consumer Marekting Manager (Fort Worth, Texas)

Extension and Teaching Jobs
Ohio Ag Ed Openings
OSU Extension, Portage County – Extension Educator, ANR
OSU Extension, Cuyahoga County – Program Coordinator, ANR
OSU Extension, Mahoning County – Program Coordinator, 4-H/ANR
OSU Extension, Franklin County – Program Assistant

Jobs to check out on Hire-A-Buckeye 
(must be logged in to Hire-A-Buckeye to see these job listings)
Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership

Where Are They Now: Meg Bennett

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Graduating with a degree in agricultural communication from Ohio State in 2015, Meg Bennett has since landed a job at FLM+ in the Dublin area as an Associate Client Relationship Team Leader (ACRTL). FLM+ is a consulting, marketing, and communications company that specializes in agriculture and environmental sMeghan_Bennett_0003ciences to help improve the lives and health of plants, animals, people and communities. As part of their ag retail team, Meg helps to manage both internal client teams as well as client relationships in order to deliver wide-open thinking, world-class work, and far-reaching results to both meet and exceed the needs of FLM+’s clients.

While a student at Ohio State, Meg was heavily involved in various organizations including Alpha Zeta Partners, Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, and Agriculture Future of America (AFA) – just to name a few. As a senior she served as the 2015 AgriNaturalist editor.

Now an alumna, Meg enjoys spending her weekends back home on the farm in Shelby County, Ohio. She has stayed active with both Sigma Alpha and AFA where she currently serves as vice president of Ohio State’s Sigma Alpha Alumni Chapter and is a member of the Forty Chances Fellows Legacy Committee, which is affiliated with AFA.

Having been graduated for a full year, Meg has had time to look back on her college years. When asked what she misses most about her time spent at Ohio State, Meg said she will always remember the time she spent abroad with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences faculty, staff and students in Costa Rica, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.

 

Dear Leah…CFAES Organizations

Dear Leah

Q: What different groups or organizations should I get involved in through the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences?

A:  Luckily for you, the answer to your question is a long list! No matter what your interest, there is a club or organization that I’m sure will provide the perfect fit!

Within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, there are various ways to get involved with a group of people who have the same kind of passion you do.

To start off with, there are academic teams to join that allow you to learn while also practicing skills you might already know. While there over 15 different teams to choose from, a few include the food product development team, weeds team, or even judging teams such as livestock, meat, horse, dairy, and soil.

Men of Alpha Gamma Rho

CFAES also has six different Greek organizations. There are four agricultural fraternities for the men to choose from, including Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Gamma Sigma, FarmHouse, and Delta Theta Sigma. As for the ladies, there are two agricultural sororities- Alpha Sigma Upsilon and Sigma Alpha. Greek life allows students an in-depth way to connect with their peers in organizations that are committed to brotherhood/sisterhood.

A few honoraries are offered as well, a couple of which are Alpha Zeta Partners and Towers Agricultural Honorary. These honoraries are committed to service to the College and the surrounding community.

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Class ’17 Members of AZP doing Saturday community service at a Columbus homeless shelter.

The majority of the organizations on the CFAES campus are under the big umbrella category of “academic organizations.” With nearly 50 different groups to choose from, chances are you’ll find at least one that will be a fit for you! Some groups, such as Agribusiness Club, Agricultural Systems Management Club, or the Pre-Vet Club are geared towards students within those majors, although anyone is welcome to join, no matter your major! There are also clubs focused on different animals, such as the Buckeye Dairy Club, Collegiate Cattlewomen, or Saddle and Sirloin Club.

 

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Saddle and Sirloin teaching the public about sheep.

As you can see, while I only listed a few of the groups or organizations within CFAES that you could join, there are many more! The full list of which can be viewed at Campus Life: Clubs and Organizations. My best advice is to join as many as you can juggle while still focusing on classes, personal life, work, or whatever else your schedule might hold! Your best college friends and best college memories are waiting for you among these organizations!

Johnson completes internship with CFAES Advancement Office

A.J Zanyk Photography 2014

A.J Zanyk Photography 2014

Sarah Johnson, of Williamsport, completed an internship with the Advancement Office for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at the Ohio State University during the 2015-2016 academic year.

During the internship, Johnson worked with donors, faculty, staff and students to develop story content and designed and edited communication materials. She contributed stories to the CFAES Connect newsletter, created videos, photographed events, prepared news releases, and assisted as needed with the donor relations, special events and stewardship activities in the Advancement Office.

“Sarah has done excellent work for the CFAES Advancement team. During her internship, Sarah displayed many talents as she tackled the communications tasks given her, and she did so with great enthusiasm. Currently, she is a student associate with us,” said Matthew Marx, coordinator of development communications, CFAES Advancement Office.

Johnson will return to Ohio State in August to continue her degree in agricultural communication. She is the daughter of Steve and Terry McKie Johnson and is a graduate of Westfall High School.

The agricultural communication major at Ohio State prepares students to plan, develop, and implement a communication campaign, using visual media, writing and editing. Students study crisis communication, graphic design, marketing, and journalism so they can spread the word about agriculture. To learn more about the agricultural communication major, visit acel.osu.edu or call 614-247-6358.

Meet Our Graduate Students: Elizabeth Hustead

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Elizabeth Hustead

After graduating with a master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Florida, Elizabeth Hustead came to Ohio State where she graduated this past May with her second master’s degree, this time in agricultural communication. Having spent the past two years in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communication, and Leadership (ACEL), Elizabeth is now out in the real world where she has begun her career in the position of social marketing coordinator in Ohio SNAP-Ed.

Elizabeth’s research at Ohio State was the flagship project of an innovative partnership between ACEL and the Center for Applied Plant Sciences (CAPS). She worked with CAPS’s scientific research teams to pilot a cutting-edge communications platform aimed at facilitating collaborative research within and across geographically dispersed teams.

In her current position as a social marketing coordinator, Elizabeth works with SNAP-Ed offices throughout the state to launch a social marketing campaign promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among SNAP recipients with children.

SNAP-Ed is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It’s goal is to: “improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent with the current dietary guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.”

Elizabeth says that her ACEL degree and the connections she made during her time as a graduate research student were instrumental in discovering her passion for food security issues and securing her position in social marketing, which she loves.

To learn more about graduate opportunities within ACEL, contact Mary Kivel by emailing kivel.1@osu.edu

 

Snider to complete internship with The Fatted Calf

Carley Snider

Carley Snider

Carley Snider, of Moscow, will complete an internship this summer with The Fatted Calf in Magdalena, Mexico.

During the internship, Snider will work with children ages 6-18 at Casa Vida y Esperanza, a children’s home, in Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico. She will help children prepare livestock projects for the EXPO Esperanze, a 4-H like “fair” held each year at the children’s home. In addition to working with the livestock projects, Snider will also teach cooking and electricity classes to the children and help with the organization and execution of the fair event.

“We are really looking forward to working with Carley this summer in our mission to glorify and obey God by providing training and career development to the fatherless and less-privileged of Mexico,” said Duane Wulf, team member with The Fatted Calf. “We are excited for the children as they benefit from Carley’s experience and leadership, and we are excited for Carley as she grow from serving others in a cross-cultural experience.”

 

Snider will return to Ohio State in August to continue her degree in agriscience education. She is the daughter of Jamie Snider and Ken Snider and a graduate of Felicity-Franklin High School.

The agriscience education major at Ohio State prepares its students you to acquire a license to teach agricultural science in secondary high schools in Ohio and across the country, with extensive training in agricultural science, educational psychology, instructional methods, and youth development. For additional information on the agriscience education major, visit acel.osu.edu or call 614.247.6358.

ACEL Weekly Update – July 20, 2016

Upcoming Events

August 23 – First day of Classes

News

On our website

Snider to complete internship with The Fatted Calf
Johnson completes internship with CFAES Advancement Office

On our Blog

Dear Leah….good eats?
Meet our Faculty: Dr. Caryn Filson
Dear Leah….study abroad?

ACEL In the News
Thompson awarded community leadership scholarship
McLain awarded agriscience education scholarship
Wippel awarded agricultural communication scholarship
Mount Gilead student awarded Ohio State agriculture scholarship
OSU awards local woman scholarship
OSU students named national scholarship recipients
Snider awarded scholarships
Johnson awarded agricultural communication scholarship
Johnson completes internship with CFAES Advancement Office
Farm bureau offers interactive agriculture exhibit

Internship Sharing
Share with the Department where you are interning this summer. Our office will be sharing features throughout the summer on our website about what our students are doing! http://acel.osu.edu/node/33
#TeachAgChat This Thursday
Please join #TeachAgChat on Thursday, July 21 8:00-9:00pm. Connecticut Agriculture and Ag Education are strong and successful, but may look different than Ag & Ag Ed in your state.

Discussion includes Agriculture: Production and Beyond…
Q1 How have the definition and scope of agriculture changed over time?Q2 What areas “beyond production” are represented in class, FFA, and SAEs?
Q3 What current events and issues should be addressed in Ag programs?
Q4 How can we spread the word about the range of content and careers in Ag?
Q5 How can all stakeholders work together for Ag Education and Ag Literacy?
Q6 Do career cluster standards include all content covered in Ag classes?
Q7 What do you find works best for career exploration and preparation?
Q8 How does AgEd impact students pursuing non-traditional Ag and non-Ag careers?

We welcome participation from educators, industry representatives professional organizations, and others.  We are all stakeholders.

Internship and Job Opportunities

Internship Openings
American Red Cross – Education/Training Coordinator Intern (Columbus, Ohio)
Arthritis Foundation – Special Events Intern, Fall 2016 (Cleveland, Ohio)
Breakfast with Alice – Brand Marketing Intern (Brooklyn, New York)
Enjoy the Arts – Marketing and Outreach Intern (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Fahlgren Mortine – Marketing and Communications Fall Intern (Beavercreek, Ohio)
Forkast – Digital Marketing Intern (Hoboken, New Jersey)
Mid-Ohio Foodbank – Seasonal Community Garden Coordinator (Grove City, Ohio)
Move for Hunger – Non-Profit Management Internship (Communication, Development, Events) (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
Move for Hunger – Social Media Communications Internship (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
Move for Hunger – Communication Internship (Remote)
Move for Hunger – Graphic Design Internship (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
Ohio Quarter Horse Association – Marketing and Communications Intern (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Athletics – Communication Intern (Columbus, Ohio)
National FFA – Arena Graphics Crew Member (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Phoenix Zoo – Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Intern (Phoenix, Arizona)
RFD-TV – Marketing Intern (Fall 2016) (Nashville, Tennessee)
Rural Action Inc – Media Intern (Mineral City, Ohio)
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati – Volunteer Management Internship (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Sodexo – Marketing Intern 
Sprouts Farmer’s Market – Interactive Marketing Intern (Phoenix, Arizona)

Full-Time Job Openings

Abilities First – Director of Marketing and Development (Middletown, Ohio)
AmeriCorps – Fundraising and Volunteer Coordinator (Cleveland, Ohio)
American Feed Industry Association – Communications Coordinator (Arlington, Virginia)
Arthritis Foundation – Development Manager (Columbus, Ohio)
Alzheimer’s Association – PT Volunteer Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Big Brothers Big Sisters – PT Program Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Birmingham Botanical Gardens – Volunteer Coordinator (Birmingham, Alabama)
California Native Plant Society – Director of Communications and Marketing(Sacramento, California)
Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank – Volunteer/Operations Coordinator (Cleveland, Ohio)
Colorado Boxed Beef Co. – Marketing Development and Branding Lead (Lakeland, Florida)
COSI – Corporate and Foundation Giving Associate (Columbus, Ohio)
COSI – Outreach Educator (Columbus, Ohio)
Eagle Family Foods Group LLC – Director of Marketing (Richfield, Ohio)
Experience Columbus – Marketing Director (Columbus, Ohio)
Faith Mission – Donations Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Franklin Park Conservatory – Director of Marketing and Visitor Experience(Columbus, Ohio)
Girls on the Run of Dayton – Program Coordinator (Dayton, Ohio)
Godman Guild Association – Program Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Gorilla Glue – Brand Manager (Cincinnati, Ohio)
HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Inc – Community Engagement Coordinator (Delaware, Ohio)
Idaho Milk Products – Marketing Manager (Jerome, Idaho)
JFS Education & Mentoring – Jewish Community Connections Coordinator(Cincinnati, Ohio)
Kalmbach Feeds – Communications Coordinator (Upper Sandusky, Ohio)
Mid-Ohio Foodbank – Pantry Coordinator (Grove City, Ohio)
Mid-Ohio Foodbank – Seasonal Community Garden Coordinator (Grove City, Ohio)
Moore Farms Botanical Garden – Events and Marketing Coordinator (Lake City, SC)
Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation – Social Media Coordinator (Medina, Ohio)
Ohio State, Communications – Writer (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, SFL – Greek Affairs Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Dance – Communication Specialist (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Admissions – Regional Recruitment Manager (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Communications – Senior Writer (Columbus, Ohio)
Ohio State, Social Work – Academic Studies Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Olbrich Botanical Gardens – Youth and Family Programs Coordinator (Madison, Wisconsin)
Omaha Steaks – Graphic Designer (Omaha, Nebraska)
Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association – Communications/Event Specialist(Charlottesville, Virginia)
Phipps Conservatory – Science Education and Research Outreach Coordinator (Pittsburgh, PA)
Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc – Public Relations Program Manager (Earth City, Missouri)
Rebuilding Together Central Ohio – AmeriCorps Community Partner Coordinator (Columbus, Ohio)
Smuckers – Director, Marketing Communications (Orrville, Ohio)
St. Vincent de Paul – VVC Food Pantry Coordinator (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Temple Beth Shalom – Marketing/Communication Coordinator (New Albany, Ohio)
The Clorox Company – Manager, Corporate Communications, Events and Graphic
Design
 (Oakland, California)
The Columbus Book Project – PT Lead Writer (Columbus, Ohio)
University of Maryland, AGNR – Ag Experiment Station Associate Director
West Texas A&M – Agricultural Communications Faculty Position
Youngstown State University – Coordinator, Student Recruitment and Engagement (Youngstown, Ohio)

Extension and Teaching Jobs
Ohio Ag Ed Openings
Gamble Montessori High School – Agricultural Education Teacher (Cincinnati, Ohio)
OSU Extension, Mahoning County – Program Coordinator, 4-H
North Carolina Extension –Extension Agent, Ag (Asheboro, NC)
Penn State Extension, Cumberland County – Extension Educator, Vegetables 
Penn State Extension –4-H Assistant Director of Programs
Norfolk County Agricultural High School – Ag Mechanics Instructor
Norfolk County Agricultural High School – Animal Sciences Instructor
Shenandoah High School – Vocational Agriculture Teacher (Middletown, Indiana)
Owen Valley Community High School – Vocational Agriculture Teacher (Spencer, Indiana)
Franklin ton High School – Vocational Agriculture Teacher (Franklinton, North Carolina)
Western Alamance High School – Agriculture Teacher (Elon, North Carolina)
Bartlett Yancey High School – Agriculture Teacher (Yanceyville, North Carolina)
Franklin High School – Agriculture Teacher  (North Carolina)
Union Pines High School – Agriculture Teacher (North Carolina)
Southern Nash Middle School – Agriculture Teacher (North Carolina)
Criswell High School – Career Technical Teacher (North Carolina)

Jobs to check out on Hire-A-Buckeye 
(must be logged in to Hire-A-Buckeye to see these job listings)
Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership

Dear Leah…good eats?

Dear Leah

Q: Any suggestions on good places to eat either on or off campus?

A: As a twenty-two year old self-proclaimed food connoisseur, I place food as a very high priority. My mom says that for as long as she can remember, I have been the kid that when bribed with food, will do pretty much anything.

Excited about something? I celebrate by eating. Stressed about something? I eat the stress away. Procrastinating working on something? I cook an elaborate meal….and then eat it. Apologizing to someone? I’ll bake them something…and invariably eat some of it. As you can see, eating is something I hold near and dear to my heart, and I make it a point to know where the best food around is.

As for good on-campus eats, I can recommend a few things. According to my taste buds, the best French fries can be found at the Mirror Lake Creamery. Golden brown, crunchy on the outside and squishy potatoey on the inside, these French fries are to die for. A hiddenIMG_5065 gem on Ag Campus is the Subway nestled near the Veterinary Buildings, and just across from the Olentangy River Bridge. It’s the perfect go-to spot if you’re on campus and realize you forgot to pack your lunch for the day, and you’re not feeling like eating campus food. If breakfast is what you’re looking for, then Hang-Over Easy on South Campus is the spot to be. Open pretty much all day everyday, this breakfast spot is a favorite among students.

 

Feeling adventurous and want to move a bit off-campus? Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace is located about a 5-10 minute drive off-campus and offers customers ginormous finger-licking, belly-sticking, and pant-unbuttoning good hot dogs. Just down high street, East of campus, is another breakfast joint that willIMG_5062 make you glad breakfast can be enjoyed any time of the day. Jack and Benny’s is famous for their fresh squeezed orange juice, and their affordable yet delicious breakfast spread.

As food is clearly one of my passions, I could go on and on about what food I recommend eating. The North Market provides you with tantalizing and exotic eats, German Village gives you authentic German cuisine, The Melt and Thurman’s will both put some meat on your bones…the list is endless. However, while I enjoy eating at all of these places, my best advice is to just go explore yourself!! Columbus is a food city, with great places to eat on every street. Who knows, the best meal of your life could be just around the corner.

 

 

The “Dear Leah” column is written by agricultural communication senior Leah Schwinn. You can submit a student life related question at schwinn.8@osu.edu

Meet Our Faculty: Dr. Caryn Filson

Growing up in a home centered around agriculture, it’s no wonder that Dr. Caryn Filson is now a lecturer in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State. Dr. Filson got her start in agriculture living on a hog and grain farm in Harrison, Ohio where she spent her childhood actively showing steers, hogs and lambs in 4-H.

She graduated from Diamond Oaks Career and Technical Center in an equine science program, then proceeded to earn her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees all from Ohio State in agricultural education. Before returning to Ohio State as a lecturer, Dr. Filson taught middle school agriscience and earth science classes in Virginia for three years.

Aside from spending time with her two boys, Grady and Jasper, Dr. Filson also has an affinity for rescuing animals including two rescue dogs, Tanner and Josie, as well as two rescued bunnies from OSU animal research, Buckeye and Blitz. In her spare time, Dr. Filson loves to garden, work with livestock, go to outdoor country concerts, visit the beach, and travel to see family and friends across the state.

When asked what her “fun fact” is, it included her siblings. Three of the four siblings in her family all graduated with college degrees across the country in the same weekend. Her younger brother from Oklahoma State with his bachelor’s, her older sister from the University of Cincinnati with her master’s, and then Caryn from Ohio State with her PhD. The most impressive part? Her parents and older brother made it to all three graduations that weekend!

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Dr. Filson and son Jasper

 

 

boys

Sons Grady (5) and Jasper (2)

 

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Grady hanging out with the hogs.

 

Dr. Filson can be contacted via email at filson.5@osu.edu.

Dear Leah…study abroad?

Dear Leah
Q: As an incoming student to CFAES this fall, I have been looking forward to college and was curious about the study abroad opportunities. I was wondering what all study abroad trips would be available for me to do, and if it’s worth it to spend that much money? I’m also concerned that studying abroad would make me graduate late because I would be taking time away from school to travel. Any advice?

A: As a senior this fall, I have studied at Ohio State for three years. Cheered on three winning seasons of Buckeye football. Taken three different psychology courses. Eaten three times my weight in Raising Cane’s chicken tenders. Had three different jobs. Had three different roommates. And traveled abroad to three countries.

The dream of studying abroad was one of the major reasons that I was so excited to move away to college and experience the world. I came from a small farm town in Ohio where I was fairly sheltered about what the world and global community had to offer. Ohio State was the perfect avenue for me to get out and culture myself.

For me, studying abroad has been one of the most beneficial and influential things I have done since moving to Columbus. The summer after my sophomore year I went on a two-week study abroad trip to England and Scotland that was primarily focused on agricultural communication. We spent time learning about the culture of the United Kingdom, eating their foods, talking with locals, admiring architecture, visiting various agricultural newspaper and magazine companies, and comparing their agricultural practices to our own.

This past spring I traveled to Brazil with fourteen of my peers where we spent six weeks immersed in Brazilian culture. Alpha Zeta Partners, a professional agricultural honorary fraternity in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, takes students to Brazil every January to learn about their fast growing agricultural sector. What I learned and experienced while in Brazil taught me more than I could have ever imagined.

Although I can’t speak for everyone, my best advice to incoming and current students is that if you have the opportunity to study abroad and see the world- DO IT! Take the leap. The programs are designed to fit with your class schedule so that you still receive course credit and can stay on track to graduate. There are also programs that you can do where you study abroad during summer break, winter break, and even spring break if you would rather not travel during the school year. Financially, I can almost guarantee that you won’t find a better price point to travel and do everything that is included in the programs. Although they can be somewhat expensive, they are relatively cheap in comparison to doing the exact same trip on your own. There are also scholarships available to students who wish to study abroad, and the College works very hard to financially help out every student that wants to travel. Throughout CFAES there are many trips abroad that focus on agriculture and environmental sciences, but there are also countless programs within the University as a whole that can take you anywhere around the world.

College is the place where you go to learn, and what better way to do that than by traveling and immersing yourself in other cultures? Diversity and cultural awareness are highly sought after in any workplace, and the skills and lessons you learn while abroad way exceed what you can learn in a classroom in Columbus. So my final advice is: get your passport, pack your bags, and go explore all that the world has to offer!

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A Brazilian bull at a breeding facility.

 

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The agricultural school we studied at in Brazil.

 

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“I love Brazil”

 

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One of the best parts of Brazil: a steakhouse.

 

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Our Ohio State group and Brazilian student Alan at the National Cathedral.

 

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Posing with a bagpipe statue in Scotland.

 

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O-H-I-O at Stonehenge.

To learn more about study abroad opportunities within CFAES, visit Agricultural Administration Room 100, or email Kelly Newlon at newlon.7@osu.edu. For study abroad opportunities for all of Ohio State, visit the Office of International Affairs.

 

 

The “Dear Leah” column is written by agricultural communication senior Leah Schwinn. You can submit a student life related question at schwinn.8@osu.edu