Teen Opportunity: ExploreAg this summer!

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to announce we will once again be hosting several free ExploreAg Camp experiences this summer! Please use this flyer to share this opportunity with rising high school students in your community.

ExploreAg Overview

Purpose: Discover careers linked to agriculture and related STEM fields through a series of immersive and hands-on experiences and tours.

Who: Ohio students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, or soon-to-be recent high school graduates.

Cost: Free 

Learn more and apply by April 15 at ExploreAg.org

2024 ExploreAg Summer Sessions

  • May 31, COLT Electric Lineman Training, Mt. Gilead
  • June 4-7, Wilmington College
  • June 9-14, OSU Columbus Campus
  • June 16-21, OSU Wooster Campus
  • July 7-12, University of Findlay

ExploreAg is Ohio Farm Bureau’s signature ag literacy and workforce development program, offering free week, multi-day and day-long immersion programs for high school students. In ExploreAg, teens learn about agriculture and related STEM fields from industry experts, scientists and educators.

Questions or concerns? Contact info@exploreag.org.

Warm regards,

Mary Klopfenstein

ExploreAg & Ag Literacy Coordinator, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Scholarship Opportunity: National Corn Growers Association

FOUR Scholarships. Endless Opportunities.

The grower-members who make up the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are committed to broadening educational opportunities and opening doors to students passionate about serving rural America and keeping their family farms thriving.

There are currently four national scholarships offered for four distinct audiences:

  • Research Students
  • Technical School/Community College Students
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students

Please also check out the many scholarships offered by State Corn Associations.

To be eligible for any national scholarships listed below, you must be an NCGA member. To become an NCGA member, click here or contact your State Corn Association.

Form more information, visit the National Corn Growers Association website.

New Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2024

Several dates including tagging, weigh-in, and MQP conclusion have changed!

A Greek philosopher once said, “the only constant in life is change.” If you plan to participate in large animal market livestock projects at the 2024 Fairfield County Jr. Fair, that couldn’t be truer.

Due to a quirk in the 2024 calendar, some historic calendar conflicts, and the move to harvesting the Beef Performance and Carcass Quality animals in 2024 several adjustments have been made to the calendar for goat, lamb, swine, beef and dairy feeder project participants. In 2024 weigh-in and tagging will be held the last Saturday in June, and the schedule for the MQP projects will also change. Specifically, the dates for 2024 that were approved by the Sr. Fair Board at their November 4th meeting include:

March 9:  Market Beef weigh-in

May 18:  Goat MQP weigh-in

June 29:  Dairy feeder weigh-in, market goat tag check-in, market hog (including MQP) tag check-in, market lamb (including MQP) tag check-in.

August 25:  Goat MQP conclusion

September 1:  Lamb MQP conclusion

September 8:  Barrow MQP conclusion

September 24:  Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (beef carcass contest) conclusion

October 1:  If participation exceeds capacity for the 24th, date for second Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (beef carcass contest) conclusion

Place these dates on your calendar and more information and detail about tagging and weigh-in will be released as soon as it becomes available.

Farm Science Review Tickets available at our office!

The 2023 Farm Science Review is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19 – Thursday, September 21, 2023,

We have 75 presale paper tickets available for purchase at our office….and once they’re gone, they’re gone!  We will not receive more.  Presale tickets are available in county offices and online at: https://www.showclix.com/event/fsr2023/tag/2023OSUE-Fairfield for $10 each until Friday, 9/15/2023.  Folks can pay for presale paper tickets here at our office by cash, check, or credit card.

Starting Saturday, 9/16/2023, tickets can be purchased for $15 each.

Children under 5 years old are FREE.

Parking is free.

Farm Science Review website: https://fsr.osu.edu/home

For handicap and accessibility information, folks can visit: https://fsr.osu.edu/visitors/handicap-accessibility

Job Opening: Lancaster High School Ag Education Instructor – Animal Science

Job Opportunity! Animal Science Instructor – Career Tech
Lancaster High School is looking for an Animal Science Instructor for next school year 2023-2024. This position is in the Career Tech department. The right candidate does not have to possess a teaching license but would be willing to complete a Teacher Education program to obtain one. They are looking for the right person that has worked in the field and may possess a Vet Tech license. For more details about the job contact Caroline Davis at c_davis@lcsschools.net.

Lancaster High School

1312 Granville Pike, Lancaster, OH 43130

Agricultural Education Instructor – Animal Science

FFA District – 7     County – Fairfield

Deadline to apply – until filled

Interested applicants please contact Caroline Davis at c_davis@lcsschools.net.

Ohio Farm Bureau Scholarships – due 2/28/2023

The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation has more than $60,000 in scholarships available to Ohio students from rural, suburban and urban communities who are pursuing degrees connected in some way to agriculture. Through 12 scholarship funds, approximately 50 awards will be made to deserving students.

The deadline to apply online at https://ofbf.org/foundation/scholarships/ is Feb. 28.

All applications require letters of recommendation, an essay, school transcripts and photos. Interactive OFBF website allows for filtering options to help determine eligibility on various scholarships.

Volunteers needed for the Ohio State Fair’s Land and Living Building!

Sharing the opportunity for your youth, 4-H families, Junior Fair Board, and royalty to earn some extra income, become a voice of agriculture, and connect with the industry at the Ohio State Fair.

The Ohio Farm Bureau runs the Land and Living building which is the largest agricultural education exhibit in the state. Ohio Farm Bureau needs (paid) volunteers to be the educated voice of displays on food, animals, environment, and technology interacting with the public.

Every shift individual’s work will be compensated with a $50 visa gift card. It also comes with some great benefits like fair admission, meal vouchers, and networking with all commodity groups in Ohio. SEE ATTACHED! Perfect for a day trip to the fair!

It would be greatly appreciated if you could share this opportunity and flyer with individuals (16+). Again, great experience for motivated fair boards, royalty, and 4-H members. We provide all training needed!

Fair season is upon us, for more information, contact Jake Zajkowski at jzajkowski@ofbf.org.

Volunteer at the Ohio State Fair – Little Farmers Exhibit

The Ohio State Fair is looking for volunteers to help at a new hands-on educational program called Little Farmers. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age and will get free Ohio State Fair admission for themselves and one guest to enjoy the fair before or after their shift.

What is Little Farmers? Little Farmers is a hands-on educational exhibit that is targeted to kids ages 3 to 10, allowing them to explore different aspects of Ohio agriculture. There are eight different stations set up in the outdoor area on the lawn northeast of the Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center. With simulated animals, real grains, planting, handling faux fruits and vegetables, and more, kids have the opportunity to learn about Ohio’s largest industry.

Who can volunteer? Individuals or groups (such as 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, sponsors, organizations, and clubs) may volunteer. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Where will I volunteer? You can request to volunteer at the start barn, garden, grain bin, chicken coop, sheep barn, dairy barn, or farmer’s market.

When? Shifts are available every day of the Fair, July 27 – August 7, 2022:

  • Morning – 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Afternoon – 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Evening – 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

How do I sign up? Complete the interest form below, and a representative of the Ohio State Fair will contact you with more information.

https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signup&urlid=10c0e4eada629a6f8c43-2022&view=standard

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Sydney Sharp at s.sharp@expo.ohio.gov.

Volunteer at the Ohio State Fair!

I wanted to reach out about a new, exciting exhibit that we will have at the 2022 Ohio State Fair. Little Farmers will be an educational, hands-on experience geared towards 3 – 10 year olds to teach them about agriculture.  

 

In order to make this exhibit successful, we will need to recruit a large number of volunteers to participate. Individuals or groups may volunteer for an entire day or just one shift. Make this a 4-H club community service project!

 

Click here for additional information: Little Farmers Flier  Anyone that is interested in volunteering can submit the online form and then we will be in touch in early June to start scheduling.  

 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions by contacting Andrea Hershey (hersheya1985@gmail.com). We appreciate you helping to spread the word about Little Farmers at the 2022 Ohio State Fair!