OSU Extension

BroadbandOhio & OSU Extension Present: Broadband Service is Coming – An Information Session in Your Area

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Connecting Ohio, One Community at a Time

BroadbandOhio, in collaboration with The Ohio State University Extension, invites local leaders, residents, and community stakeholders to a series of free public information sessions on the future of broadband access across the state.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
With historic federal investments, every unserved address in Ohio is on track to be connected by 2030. These sessions are part of a statewide initiative to share updates on current and upcoming broadband projects, community partnerships, and how YOU can be a part of Ohio’s digital transformation.

Join OSU Extension and BroadbandOhio to:
✔ Learn about broadband projects in your region
✔ Discover how federal and state funding is being used
✔ Hear how communities are partnering for progress
✔ Ask questions and connect with BroadbandOhio & OSU Extension experts

SESSION SCHEDULE:

📍 May 5 – Central Ohio (Knox County)
Ramser 4-H Activity Center, 700 Perimeter Dr., Mt. Vernon, OH – 2:00 PM

📍 May 7 – Southwest Ohio (Preble County)
City of Eaton Youth Center, 306 Seven Mile Dr., Eaton, OH – 2:00 PM

📍 May 12 – Northeast Ohio (Stark County)
Main Library Branch, 715 Market Ave. N, Canton, OH – 2:00 PM

📍 May 19 – Northwest Ohio (Paulding County)
Paulding County OSU Extension Building, 503 Fairground Dr., Paulding, OH – 2:00 PM

📍 May 20 – Southeast Ohio (Athens County)
Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens, OH – 2:00 PM

For more information, contact:
Kyle White.2811@osu.edu and Sarah Mays.201@osu.edu

2nd Southern Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference

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Connect, learn, and grow at the Southern Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference! Spend the day networking with fellow women in agriculture while engaging with expert speakers, doing hands-on activities, and attending vendor exhibits.

Date: April 4, 2025
Location: Bell Manor, Chillicothe, OH
Time: The program begins at 9:00 AM

What to Expect:

Grant Writing Workshop – Learn from Gwynn Stewart, Assistant Director of Community Development and grant writing author, as she shares strategies for securing funding, crafting strong applications, and building relationships with funders.

Marketing Strategies – Christy Welch and Kate Hornyak, OSU Extension Direct Marketing, will provide insights on engaging your target audience and boosting your business with effective marketing tools.

From Soil to Success Panel – Hear real-life experiences from local women farmers:

  • Mandy Way (Farmers’ Markets)
  • Dana Workman (Livestock)
  • Liz Fundergurgh (Agronomic Crops)
  • Alanna Reisinger (Floriculture Production)

Snapshot Strategies – Improve your photography skills with Jenny Stoneking and Christy Millhouse (OSU Extension). Learn how to capture eye-catching marketing photos using an iPad, camera, or phone.

Take Home a Floral Creation! – Gain hands-on experience processing tulips into a vase arrangement and layering bulbs for multi-season blooms with daffodils, tulips, and crocuses.

Registration: $50 – Sign up at go.osu.edu/womeninagconf by March 28, 2025!

Join us for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration. We can’t wait to see you there!

REMINDER: OSU Extension Small Farm Conference Registrations Due

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OSU Extension Small Farm Conference to be held – at Ohio State University Wooster Shisler Center Wooster, Ohio

By: Julie Wayman

Community Development Educator

OSU Extension Ashtabula County

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Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Wooster, OH on March 8th. The theme for this year’s Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation. There will be five different conference tracks including: Horticulture and Crop Production, Business Management, Livestock, Natural Resources and Diversifying Your Enterprise.

Some conference topic highlights include: Growing in a Hoophouse, Integrated Disease Management Strategies for Apple and Peaches, High Tunnel Tour, Using Cover Crops for Soil Regeneration, Creating Habitat for Beneficial Insects on the Farm, Growing Microgreens, Money to Grow: Grants 101, Growing Your Farm With Agritourism, Navigating Licenses/Certificates for your Small Farm Market, How Can Value – Added Help Your Farm, Vaccination Programs for a Small Farm, Grassfed Beef Tour.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Ohio State University Wooster Campus Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

For conference and registration information call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401. Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://Go.osu.edu/2025smallfarmconference

2025 East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference

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Registration is now open for the 2025 East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference on Friday, March 21 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Shisler Event Center on The Ohio State University’s Wooster Campus, 1880 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691. This is a very special year as we celebrate our tenth year together with our biggest conference yet!

This year’s program will feature 24 break-out sessions in 6 tracks including: Plants, Animals, Business & Marketing, Home & Family, Special Interest, and Personal Development. These informative and interactive sessions are presented by Ohio State University Extension educators, farmers, industry professionals, and partner agencies.

We are thrilled to have international speaker, author, and farm coach, Elaine Froese, at our conference this spring. She’s on a mission to guide farm families, across North America, to get unstuck, communicate better, find harmony through understanding, and secure a profitable farm legacy. Elaine is traveling from her home farm in Manitoba, Canada to speak with us! She will share a special keynote about Living an Intentional Life, will teach a breakout session to help tackle tough family conversations, and will have Coach on Call individual sessions available throughout the day. Every participant will also get a copy of Elaine’s book, “Farming’s In-Law Factor.” You can learn more about Elaine Froese at elainefroese.com.

Registration information can be found at go.osu.edu/eowiareg25 and you can learn about sponsorship opportunities at go.osu.edu/eowiasponsor25.