Historical Contexts Show Opportunity for CD’s Future

Autumn in Appalachian Ohio is simply beautiful. On October 14th, fourteen of our CD team members gathered in Marietta and enjoyed the fall colors during our quarterly team meeting. We had the pleasure of meeting four new hires: Laura Fuller (CD Educator, Noble County), Gary Kuhn (Program Manager, Alber Enterprise Center), Amanda Osborne (CD Educator, Cuyahoga County), and Carla Wood (Program Coordinator, Alber Enterprise Center).

A special thanks to Darlene Lukshin who hosted our event, made the sternwheel boat arrangements and even had homemade refreshments, thanks to the wonderful team at the Washington County Extension office. What a great day!

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District presentation:

Darlene also arranged for a presentation by Chief Engineer Boris Slogar and Chief of Conservation Ted Lozier from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District with whom she’s worked on community projects (new low cost erosion/soil stabilization methods). They provided an historical context and pointed out how watersheds impact the local economy and environment. Their presentation showed implications of flooding on human systems (families, food supplies, safe water, etc.) and economic systems (business-to-business, tourism impacts, and others). In short, we learned about numerous resources that the Conservancy Districts (here and across Ohio) hold, and that there is great potential for community development projects and partnerships with and through them.

Muskingum River Sternwheeler Cruise:

IMG_0039Although it may have sounded like just a nice way to enjoy lunch, the river boat cruise actually turned into another history lesson. We locked through Devol’s Dam, the only remaining manual turn lock in the country. Onboard, we learned about early settlement in the area, and heard about many of the economies that early residents enjoyed. I was reminded of our 2014 Extension Annual Conference at which we looked back at history in order to consider our future. This is a great approach to planning. We finished the day with some great conversation and did planning for our 2016 CD section of JCEP.

(Submitted by Brian Raison, Assistant Professor; Interim Assistant Director, CD; CD Educator, Miami County & Top of Ohio EERA; and Miami County Extension Director)

LOOK! Emerging Youth Leadership in Clermont County

Building youth leadership in Clermont County starts with the LOOK to Clermont program facilitated by the community partnership with the University of Cincinnati – Clermont College and Ohio State University Extension – Clermont County through collaboration within all four Extension program areas. This tight-knit partnership came to evolve from a nearly twenty-year-old program that was formerly operated by Clermont 20/20 in partnership with the Clermont Chamber of Commerce. Also, featuring an adult program called LEAD Clermont, these adult LEADers aide in the learning experience for the Clermont County youth of the program.

LOOK! Clermont County 2015-10-15 Blog #1 The LOOK to Clermont program is a series of classroom and practical learning experiences. Here high school students from throughout the county meet monthly to develop and enhance leadership skills while increasing awareness of critical issues within Clermont County. Embedded in this program is a course where students receive college credit through the College Credit Plus program. Juniors receive credit from the University of Cincinnati – Clermont College, while seniors receive credit from The Ohio State University for the COMLDR 3530: Foundations of Personal and Professional Leadership course in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

In addition to individual assignments and class time experience, the students participate in community projects where they are able to add value and positively impact Clermont County first hand. Students practice speaking by sharing information gleaned from local research and exposure to local leaders in action. The ultimate goal of the program is that through strong community partnerships Clermont County high school students are prepared to be tomorrow’s community leaders.

LOOK! Clermont County #2 - 2015-10-15Not only does the LOOK to Clermont program facilitate community development through partnerships with other organizations and local citizens, it unites the Extension program areas in collaboration. Each monthly class has a theme, such as teambuilding, history and agriculture, civic engagement, education, personal finance, safety and justice, community development, or envisioning the future. Depending on the theme for the particular day, the county educators work closely to utilize their personal networks to engage the students in a learning experience that will best benefit them while giving exposure to the individual or group within the county that may be hosting or presenting the class. This allows a Community Development rooted program to nurture the countywide network through Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Further, the students gain knowledge in a wide array of topics relevant to Clermont County in a short period of time.

LOOK! Clermont County #3 - 2015-10-15Earlier this month the LOOK to Clermont program held the history and agriculture day. The students met at the Extension office where they discussed the rich history of agriculture in Clermont County with the Agriculture and Natural Resources educator, Gigi Neal. Next, the group toured the county with stops including: Carney’s Feed Mill, Grant’s Farm and Greenhouse, Cornwell Farms, and Shaw Farms. Along the way the students were able to learn about a historic family-based feed milling business, a grain farm and greenhouse in full production, water quality and its importance through a Conservation Innovation Grant Basin and reduction in nutrient run-off.

For lunch the Family and Consumer Sciences educator, Margaret Jenkins, arranged a nutritious picnic-style meal. The day ended with a stop at an agritourism farm where the students were able to use their leadership skills to navigate a corn maze. The corn maze activity was aided by the Real Colors® program previously facilitated in part by the 4-H Youth Development educator, Kelly Royalty, where students were mixed with different colors to see how different personalities work together. This class day is just one example of how the LOOK to Clermont program works to nurture the many networking opportunities given on a daily basis to positively impact Clermont County residents.

Currently, the LOOK to Clermont partners are working to measure the true reach of the program on Clermont County individuals and families. Positive impacts can be extensively seen through the success of previous program graduates. For more information on LOOK to Clermont, visit the Clermont County Extension page.

(Submitted by Trevor Corboy, Student Assistant, Community Development State Office & Clermont County; Margaret Jenkins, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Clermont County; Gigi Neal, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Clermont County; and Kelly Royalty, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Clermont County)

 

Renewable Energy Workshop – November 4

PSEG solar farm 2015-10-8

Renewable Energy Workshop will include a tour of the 83-acre PSEG solar field in Wyandot County, shown above. (Photo: Ken Chamberlain, CFAES Marketing and Communications)

Ohio’s largest solar farm as well as other ways to go renewable will be featured during a workshop on Wednesday, November 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Vaughn Industries in Carey, Ohio. Speakers will include renewable energy experts from The Ohio State University and the industry. Anyone interested in renewable energy, such as farmers, homeowners, small-business owners, financial and insurance companies, researchers and students, and state and local agency personnel are invited to attend.

Topics include:

  • Solar energy
  • Funding possibilities
  • Growing grasses to make biofuels
  • Producing bioenergy through anaerobic digestion of manure and plant matter

Tour sites include:

  • Vaughn Industries
  • PSEG Solar

For complete information, including session and tour descriptions, speaker bios and registration, read the CFAES news release. Registration is $40 if paid by October 27 ($50 after that date) and includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Workshop flyer & registration form

(Submitted by Eric Romich, Assistant Professor and Extension Field Specialist for Energy Development)

Energy Infrastructure Workshop – October 27

Shale Workshop 2015-10-27Communities and individuals across Ohio are being impacted daily by the Energy Boom – through shale horizontal drilling, related business growth, and the development of pipelines crisscrossing all parts of the state. Energy companies are approaching landowners to lease their land or purchase pipeline rights of way. Community leaders are experiencing an influx of workers and their families, impacting roads, social services, housing and schools.

As Extension professionals, we are increasingly asked by our community leaders and residents to help them understand and address the impacts of energy development. By attending this workshop, you will come away with an understanding of the future of energy development in Ohio, anticipated impacts on our communities, and resources available to help leaders and residents address their concerns.

Energy Infrastructure Workshop: Statewide Impacts of Shale and Alternative Energy Development

Tuesday, October 27
9 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

Online registration link: go.osu.edu/energyinfrastructure

For additional information, please read the news article.

(Submitted by Myra Moss, Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Heart of Ohio EERA)