Information

OSU Extension to Host 7th Annual East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference

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Ohio State University (OSU) Extension, the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will host the 7th Annual East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference.  This year’s conference convenes on Thursday, March 19 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the RG Drage Career Technical Center, 2800 Richville Drive SE in Massillon.  All women and young women (high school age) who are interested in, involved in, or want to become involved with food, agricultural, or natural resources production or small business are encouraged and welcomed to attend.

The conference program features an agency/vendor fair and eighteen educational breakout sessions presented by OSU Extension educators, producers and partner agencies.  Sessions focus around five themes: Business & Finance, Plants & Animals, Communication, Home & Family and Special Interest (areas of specific interest to attendees).  Farm and Dairy Editor, Rebecca Miller is the conference featured keynote speaker. Her presentation will engage and enlighten participants on “Clinging to context in a noisy world: don’t lose sight of your “why”.

Interested individuals can register for the conference on-line at go.osu.edu/eowia2020.  Cost of the conference is $55 for adult participants and $30 for students.  Conference fee includes conference participation, continental breakfast, lunch and conference handouts.   Deadline for registration is Thursday, March 12.

Registered participants, community organizations or businesses interested in sponsorships and/or securing an informational or vendor table can do so from the registration page or contact 1-740-264-2212 to obtain more information.  A list of sponsorship opportunities is also available from the registration page.

Stay connected with the Ohio Women in Agriculture Learning Network on Facebook @OHwomeninag or subscribe to the Ohio Women in Agriculture blogsite at http://u.osu.edu/ohwomeninag/ .

2020 Youth Conservationist Program

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Youth interested in applying for the 2020 Youth Conservationist Program:
Must be between 9 and 18 years old.

Submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2020 that includes:
An essay which introduces you, your experience with animals, if for any reason, the animal is not being kept at your own home, explain, in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be, your essay should explain your interest in sheep, and answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.”

Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from their 4-H Advisor, FFA Advisor, veterinarian, teacher or clergy. The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length. The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a specific breed or for any of the breeds available. The application must include address, phone and if available, email address.

Interested young people should contact Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to:
Elaine Ashcraft, 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, OH 43812
740.622.1573 tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com
please note the underscore between tankewe and cr58!

ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED, WILL NOT ACCEPT EMAILED ESSAYS!

Requirements if selected:
Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday May 3, 2020. Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2020 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state where the recipient lives. Must breed the ewe to a registered ram (of her breed) in the fall of 2020, should consult the donor breeder for their recommendations. Must either use the ewe’s fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver. Must submit an article the following Feb/Mar (2021) to their local newspaper covering their year and including information concerning the next year’s YCP program. Must submit a one to two-page report, with pictures, to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2021 and provide a scrapbook to be used at the Maryland Festival which is then given back to the youth.

Any questions please contact Elaine Ashcraft 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, Ohio 43812
1-740-622-1573 tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com
Donors choose the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth.

Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN) Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge

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Homeschool, afterschool clubs, community- and faith-based programs that serve high school students can participate in the OAN Pitch Challenge. Teens pitch their ideas, compete for prizes, and meet successful entrepreneurs.  Get involved in 3 easy steps:

  1. Register your teen program before March 2.
  2. Use the free Young Entrepreneur Pitch curriculum and get free resources to teach entrepreneurship.
  3. Hold a pitch challenge in your program.

The top two pitches advance to regional contests and the top regional pitches advance to the May 6th OAN State Pitch Challenge–held in conjunction with COSI Columbus’ Science Festival. Tickets to COSI, lunch, and stipends to offset transportation costs are provided.

A full day intensive training on teaching entrepreneurship to high school students will be held at the Ohio Afterschool Network Best Foot Forward Conference on Thursday, February 20. A 90-minute session for adults who work with elementary and middle school students will be held on Friday, February 21. More information about these trainings is at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmQkOuUn5hPXnYYYDmWscH8SJwjIHOjqsgkpf7ZOqBtPrzBQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

For more information Visit OAN’s website or contact Liz Nusken, liz@oanohio.org.

2020 Hartford Fair Steer Weigh-in & Ohio State Fair DNA Samples

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All steers and heifers (including Delaware, Knox & Licking Counties) that may be exhibited during the 2020 Hartford Junior Fair Market Steer & Heifer show must be marked by ear tag and tattoo on SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020, at the Hartford fairgrounds (Grubb Arena – West End) between 8 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (NOTE: We are no longer there until noon). Up to four (4) steers or heifers can be tagged for the Hartford Fair per exhibitor.

Tagging fee is $1.00 per tagged animal. Exhibitors must complete a registration card for each animal, which requires the exhibitor’s signature. If the exhibitor will be unable to attend weigh-in procedures, please stop by the Licking County Extension Office and pick up the registration card(s) to be signed by exhibitor in advance.

OSF Junior Fair Market Steer / Heifer DNA samples will NOT be collected during Hartford Fair Steer / Heifer Weigh-In. OSF DNA samples must be submitted by the exhibitor directly to the OSF by no later than January 15th. For additional information, contact Lisa McCutcheon at mccutcheon.46@osu.edu. DNA sample packets are available by contacting the Ohio State Fair directly, or your local Extension office may have some available. See attachment for additional details.

Questions? Give us a call at 740-670-5315. In case of inclement weather conditions, listen to WCLT-AM, WHTH-AM, or visit www.licking.osu.edu for an announcement. Announcement will also be made on the Hartford Fair and Licking County 4-H Facebook pages. Make-up date, if necessary, will be Saturday, January 25, 2020.

2020 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition

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2020 Essay Topic: Overwintering: Bee Survival through the Cold Season

Honey bees have developed special skills to overwinter in the United States. Please discuss one of these skills and then include a discussion about what you do to prepare your hives for winter. Include a photo of one of your hives, either using infrared technology or showing winter wrap, hay bales, special feeders, etc. to demonstrate how you prepare your hives for winter

The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. – 2020 4H Essay Contest – Deadline for submission to the state 4-H office March 23, 2020.  Submit essays to Lisa Jinks, jinks.2@osu.edu by midnight 3/23/2020. Submissions will be reviewed and the top state essay selection will be forwarded to the Foundation for national competition. CLICK HERE FOR RULES/OVERVIEW.

Horsebowl Teams Forming

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Horsebowl is a fun and educational competition between counties within Ohio.  The competition will take place on Saturday April 4, 2020. All 4-H members taking a Horse project are eligible to participate.  You can learn more about Horsebowl at https://ohio4h.org/events/state-4-h-horse-bowl-contest

We will be having a meeting to establish the Licking County teams:

When:  Monday January 13 / 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Where:  Licking County OSU Extension 771 E Main St., Suite 103, Newark, Ohio 43055.

This meeting is important as we will be determining the practice times and establishing the teams.

If you are unable to attend, call / text Lisa Kuhn 614-746-7634 to express your interest in participating.

OSU Junior Swine Day

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The OSU Junior Swine Day will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at both OSU Columbus and Wooster. Both programs will run from 8:00am to 3:00pm that day. Cost is $15 per person and all participants must be registered online by March 20, 2020 in order to attend. No registrations will be accepted the day of the event. Space is limited, so please register early. There will be a Quality Assurance training as part of this program. For more information, or to register, please visit: go.osu.edu/OSUJRSDay.

Office Closed for the Holidays

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The Licking County OSU Extension Office will be closed December 24th through 25th and on January 1st for the holidays. We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and look forward to all of the great things that will happen in 2020!