Author: Adrienne Anderson

Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer Donates Record 286,339 Pounds of Food To Ohio Food Banks

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Ohio. (November 19, 2024) – Presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st, Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer is a friendly competition that empowers young Ohio residents to combat hunger. This summer marked the fourth year of the program. 66 county fairs across the state collected a record-breaking 286,339 pounds of food for local food banks.

“This year, we were able to increase the total amount raised by over 25% while reaching a record amount of food raised,” said Melanie Strait-Bok, senior vice president of agricultural lending for Farm Credit Mid-America in Ohio. “With more than a million Ohioans facing food insecurity, it has been inspiring to see our communities come together in this way.”

Every participating county fair received a donation to support activities that build future agriculture leaders. Additional prize dollars were given to the top fifteen participating fairs. In total, Farm Credit Mid-America donated more than $50,000 to junior fair boards.

Winners were determined by calculating the total weight of all donations at participating fairs throughout five regions in Ohio. 1st place regional winners were awarded $5,000 in addition to the $500 donation they received for participating in the event. This year’s 1st place winners were:

  • Champaign County Fair for collecting 11,700 pounds of food
  • Guernsey County Fair for collecting 30,340 pounds of food – in our region
  • Lorain County Fair for collecting 32,580 pounds of food
  • Ross County Fair for collecting 30,140 pounds of food
  • Van Wert County Fair for collecting 7,340 pounds of food

2nd-place winners were awarded $3,500 in addition to the $500 donation they received for participating in the event. This year’s 2nd place winners were:

  • Ashland County Fair for collecting 10,080 pounds of food
  • Clermont County Fair for collecting 12,455 pounds of food
  • Hartford Independent Fair for collecting 13,677 pounds of food
  • Henry County Fair for collecting 4,380 pounds of food
  • Warren County Fair for collecting 7,080 pounds of food

3rd place winners were awarded $1,500 in addition to the $500 donation they received for participating in the event. This year’s 3rd place winners were:

  • Brown County Fair for collecting 10,100 pounds of food
  • Defiance County Fair for collecting 3,043 pounds of food
  • Greene County Fair for collecting 5,440 pounds of food
  • Muskingum County Fair for collecting 10,300 pounds of food – in our region
  • Stark County Fair for collecting 8,620 pounds of food

“Doing stock the trailer these past few years has helped me realize how big of an impact it is to help better our community,” said Ashland County junior fair board member, Alexus Evans. “Even something as small as donating a few cans of food can make the biggest difference for a family.”

To learn more about Farm Credit Mid-America and its commitment to supporting local communities, please visit www.fcma.com.

 

REMINDER: Market Steer and Heifer Weigh-In for 2025

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2025 Hartford Fair Market Steer / Heifer exhibitors are asked to make note of the following details to ensure that their market animals are registered online (by noon on Friday, December 6, 2024) and weighed-in on December 7, 2024 in preparation for the 2025 Hartford Fair. Online Registration: go.osu.edu/2025HartfordWeighIn

Details regarding eligibility for the Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Market Steer / Heifer show can be found HERE. DNA samples are to be submitted to the OSF by no later than January 15. Same as in 2024: OSF is no longer providing 840 EID tags – they must be provided by the exhibitor / breeder, with tag number note on DNA packet prior to submission.

Farm Credit Mid-America Scholarship Opportunities

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Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars Program
Farm Credit Mid-America is thrilled to announce the FARM CREDIT MID-AMERICA SCHOLARS program for 2025 (they’re 9th year!). This program provides $5,000 in scholarship support over a two-year period and includes leadership development workshops and experiential travel. They are seeking the next generation of leaders who are passionate about making a difference in agriculture. Ideal candidates are current freshmen or sophomores in college, pursuing a degree in agriculture from universities in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee or Arkansas, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. For more details, please visit the website featuring last year’s Scholars: Meet the FCMA Scholars.

Customer Scholarship Program
They also offer $1,500 scholarships to students attending accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities or vocational/trade schools. Recipients of the CUSTOMER SCHOLARSHIP must be children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Mid-America customers pursuing a career in the agricultural industry. Current high school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores and juniors, are welcome to apply.

If you know someone majoring in agriculture who would be a good candidate for either of these scholarships, please feel free to share this information with them. Applications can be found on their website or linked above. The deadline to apply for the Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars program is December 15, 2024, and the deadline for the Customer Scholarship program is January 15, 2025.

Over the past decade, Farm Credit Mid-America has awarded more than $2 million in financial and educational support to deserving students pursuing careers in agriculture.

If you have questions, please reach out to Randy Barbee at randy.barbee@fcma.com or 502-494-5713.

Food Pantry Network of Licking County: Elves in Action

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Elves in Action is the Food Pantry Network of Licking County’s annual, community-wide fundraiser held at the end of every year to help them stock the shelves for the holiday season. Elves in Action aims to bring together supporters interested in fighting food insecurity in Licking County and collect food and monetary donations to benefit the Food Pantry Network. This year, the staff at the Licking County Extension Office will be volunteering from 5:30-7:30pm on Friday, December 20, 2024 to collect food and monetary donations in downtown Newark on the square. Please come visit us and help us fight food insecurity in Licking County!

Please Note: There will be volunteers on the square every evening from 5:30-7:30pm collecting donations starting Friday, November 29th through December 24th. Stop by any of those dates to make a donation, but if you want to see Lisa and Adrienne, be sure to stop by on December 20th!

REMINDER: 2024 4-H Achievement Night

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We are excited to recognize our members and advisors at the annual Licking County 4-H Achievement Night on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6:30pm at C-TEC. We are thrilled to recognize individuals who fall into the list below. While we look forward to recognizing these youth and volunteers, please know that everyone is welcome to attend this event, even if you are not getting recognized. Come cheer on your fellow 4-H members and club advisors. If you plan to attend please RSVP by visiting http://go.osu.edu/4HBanquet. Once there you will complete a very quick and simple survey that will help us gauge the number of people who will be attending. Please RSVP by Monday, November 18, 2024.

Areas/Groups Being Recognized:

  • Project/Commodity Royalty Representatives
  • Ohio State Fair Livestock and Still Project Awards: Clock Trophy, Honorable Mention, Outstanding of the Day, Animal/Livestock Skill-a-thon, Junior Livestock, Junior Dog
  • Dairy Judging Contest: Licking County and Ohio 4-H Contests
  • 4-H Band: Officers, Council, Advisor Board, and Scholarship Recipients
  • Licking County Teen Leadership: Camp Counselors, Hartford Fair Junior Fair Board, Food & Fashion Board, 4-H CARTEENS
  • Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership: Teen Leadership Council, Ohio 4-H Event Youth Assistant
  • 4-H Achievement Record Awards: Project Area Awards, Trip Awards, and Scholarship Recipients
  • “I Dare You” Award Recipients
  • Honor Clubs
  • Club Charter for New Clubs
  • Licking County 4-H Committee
  • Licking County 4-H Advisors
  • 4-H Volunteers: Quality Assurance Instructors, Hartford Fair Senior Fair Board, 4-H Camp Volunteers, Skill-a-thon Facilitators, Project Interview Judges
  • Friend of 4-H Announcement

LAST CHANCE: Christmas Tree Raffle: Fundraiser for Licking County 4-H

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One of our Licking County 4-H members, Kinsey Duzan, along with help from her family, has organized a Christmas Tree Raffle to benefit the Licking County 4-H Program! There are three, themed trees along with all of the decorations that you can win! Check out the flyer below or click here: Christmas Tree Raffle to download a PDF version of the flyer. Tickets are $10 each and there will be three winners from this raffle. To hear Kinsey share about her experiences in 4-H and why supporting 4-H is important, you can view her video on our Facebook page HERE.

 

LAST CHANCE: Gift Card Drive for Nationwide Children’s Hospital

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Let’s put our “Hands to Larger Service” as we partner with Karis’ Cause to collect gift cards for patients and their families at Nationwide Children’s Hospital this holiday season. We are requesting $10 gift cards. Gift cards can be brought to the 2024 4-H Achievement Night on Thursday, November 21, 2024 or dropped off to the Licking County Extension Office by Thursday, November 21st.

Suggested gift cards:

  • Restaurants – Panera, Subway, and Tim Hortons are located in or near the hospital and are great options. Other restaurant cards are also appreciated.
  • Walmart
  • Target
  • Kroger
  • CVS
  • Amazon
  • Door Dash
  • Starbucks

Market Steer and Heifer Weigh-In for 2025

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2025 Hartford Fair Market Steer / Heifer exhibitors are asked to make note of the following details to ensure that their market animals are registered online (by noon on Friday, December 6, 2024) and weighed-in on December 7, 2024 in preparation for the 2025 Hartford Fair. Online Registration: go.osu.edu/2025HartfordWeighIn

Details regarding eligibility for the Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Market Steer / Heifer show can be found HERE. DNA samples are to be submitted to the OSF by no later than January 15. Same as in 2024: OSF is no longer providing 840 EID tags – they must be provided by the exhibitor / breeder, with tag number note on DNA packet prior to submission.