Hardin County Extension News Release

For Further Information Contact:
Mark Badertscher
Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator Phone – 419-674-2297
E-Mail – badertscher.4@osu.edu
For Immediate Release –December 12, 2013

Grain Marketing Webinar Series to be Offered Online

Growers, who want to experience grain marketing using real-world strategies without any of the real-world risks, can take advantage of a series of courses taught by Dr. Matt Roberts from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Participants will learn how to use futures and options; make a marketing plan to fit their farm business; use crop insurance as a grain marketing tool; and how to understand financial statement analysis in relationship to their grain marketing plan.

The courses, to be offered Jan. 7 and 21; Feb.4 and 18; and March 4, will be taught online and will offer participants the ability to experience grain marketing simulations using marketing options commonly used in grain marketing without the risk of actually taking a position on real bushels. The series of online courses enables farmers to log in from the comfort of their home office allowing more people access to the courses.

Using the Commodity Challenge, a program managed by the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, growers will participate in a grain marketing simulation exercise that allows use of all the marketing options used in grain marketing without the risk of actually taking a position on real bushels. The online-trading simulation features real- time cash, futures and options quotes for corn, soybeans and wheat from local markets here in Ohio. Participants can use basis contracts, puts, calls, and can sell cash on the market, basically all of the tools we have in real life without any of the real risk of marketing real bushels.

The workshops are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with each course building on information taught in the previous course. Participants missing a session will have the opportunity to view a recording of the webinar if they want to learn the information. Registration for the online classes is $135, but each participant can earn part or all of the cost back through their participation in the course.

Part of each participant’s registration costs will be placed in a pool that will be distributed back to participants based on how well they market their grain in the commodity challenge. Those who sell their challenge grain for the average of all course participants will earn a refund of $100 from their registration fee. Those who do above the course average will earn more than $100 and those who do less than the course average will receive less than $100. The refund is an incentive to give participants a reason to do as well as they can in the commodity challenge.

Additionally, participants will want to check with their local Extension office to see if supplemental meetings will be held. Some ANR Educators will be meeting with participants in supplemental meeting to further enhance the grain marketing course and assist with questions participants might have.

Registration can be found at https://www.regonline.com/grainmarketing. There is a $25 non- refundable service fee for cancellations. For more information about the program, contact Bruynis at bruynis.1@osu.edu or 740-702-3200.

For more information about OSU Extension, Hardin County, visit the Hardin County OSU Extension web site at www.hardin.osu.edu, the Hardin County OSU Extension Facebook page or contact Mark Badertscher, at 419-674-2297.

December 3, 2013

Agricultural News Release

For more information, contact Mark Badertscher

OSU Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources

419-674-2297 or badertscher.4@osu.edu

————————————————————————

Agriculture Hall of Fame Winners Honored at Banquet

by Mark Badertscher, OSU Extension Educator

Ohio State University Extension, Hardin County – The Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame honored the 2013 winners, who were inducted at the eleventh annual Agriculture Hall of Fame recognition banquet held at St. John’s United Church of Christ on December 3. The 2013 inductees were: Franklin Garmon, Laurie Laird, Rex & Joan Sullinger, and Bernard & Virginia Williams.

The purpose of the county Agriculture Hall of Fame is to recognize outstanding agricultural contributions by Hardin County people and to honor those who have brought distinction to themselves and the agricultural industry. Shannon (Wilcox) Donnelly presented the keynote address entitled ‘Parallel Agriculture.’ Members of the Agriculture Hall of Fame Committee are: Kerry Oberlitner (Farm Bureau) – chairman, Paul Ralston – vice chairman, Mark Badertscher (OSU Extension) – secretary, Robert McBride, Treasurer, Robert Wood (Grange), John Messmer, Andrew Flinn, Luke Underwood, and Don Spar.

Because these Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees’ service is vital to Ohio Agriculture and the citizens of our great state, Ohio Senator Cliff Hite has arranged for Senate Commendations for each inductee. He will deliver these commendations when they are approved and ready from the Ohio Senate. The Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame would like to thank the sponsors who made this banquet possible. For further information, go to hardin.osu.edu.

Laurie J. Laird graduated from Hardin Northern High School. She attended The Ohio State University Landscape Design Short Courses to prepare her for her professional career. Laird started in the industry in 1972 with a lawn care/landscape business. She is the sole owner of New Leaf Landscape and Garden Center, with stores both in Ada and Kenton. Along with providing people in Hardin County with gardening and landscaping needs, she has employed many other people over the years in the industry. Actively involved in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Laird regularly gives back to communities with donations to fund raisers, school projects, and other events. She participates yearly in continuing education to stay current on gardening and landscape issues to provide customers with up-to-date information. In addition to running her business, Laird also helped various townships with tree selections in parks and cemeteries. Her stores hold educational seminars and she made several presentations at various garden clubs and other organizations, both in Hardin County as well as other neighboring counties. A member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, she is always willing to share her plant knowledge with anyone who has questions.

Rex and Joan Sullinger are being inducted as husband and wife. Rex graduated from Byhalia High School and then served in the U.S. Navy. Joan graduated from North Union High School and then Otterbein College. The Sullingers were married in 1973, and lived on a dairy farm that they managed and later purchased. In 1975, the farm evolved into a field crops and beef cattle operation. Joan has been an elementary teacher at Benjamin Logan Local Schools, while recently Rex has worked at Silver Creek Supply. Members of Silver Creek United Methodist Church, Rex and Joan have been active in Hardin County agriculture. Rex has served on many committee and boards, including the Taylor Creek Township Zoning Board, Rural Electric Association, and the Regional Planning Board. He has testified before the Ohio Senate and House on agricultural issues, served as a member of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Board, and Hardin County Fair with involvement in both the beef and dairy departments. Rex has also served as president on both the Ohio and American Murray Grey beef cattle association boards. In addition, he also participated in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) land stewardship programs, which was highlighted during an OSU Extension Twilight Tour.

Both Rex and Joan Sullinger have been active in the Hardin County Cattle Producers Board of Directors for many years. Joan has served as secretary, where she instituted a newsletter to disseminate information about the group’s activities. She has also been active in the Hardin County Fair, serving on several committees, most recently the Antiques committee and has been involved in planting and maintaining flowers at the fairgrounds. Joan currently serves as the secretary of the Ohio Cattlewomen’s Association, has served on the Ways and Means committee, and is the editor of their newsletter. She maintains membership rolls as a service to the membership committee, and has been on the Ohio Queen of Beef Committee. She is also a member of the American National Cattlewomen, Ohio and American Murray Grey Associations. Both Joan and Rex have served as advisors to the Taylor Creek Lads & Lassies 4-H Club, received the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree from the Ridgemont FFA, and are members of the Hardin County Farm Bureau, where they have served on the board and council.

Bernard and Virginia Williams are also being inducted as husband and wife. Both Bernard and Virginia Williams graduated from Mt. Victory School. Bernard joined the Army Air Force and served during World War II in the South Pacific as a member of the ‘7th Airdrome Squadron.’ Together, Bernard and Virginia have been involved with a beef cattle and crop operation for 68 years. They formerly raised hogs as part of the family operation, and Bernard worked for a short time for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) measuring acreage. Both Bernard and Virginia have served as Sunday school teachers at Otterbein Church and advisors to the Hardin County Grange Youth. They are members of the Painter Creek Grange, where Bernard was Worthy Master and Virginia was Worthy Secretary.

Bernard was a member of the Ridgemont School Board, Hardin County Farm Bureau Board, and served over 20 years on the Mid-Ohio Electric Board. Known as a soil conservationist, he never fall plowed, always rotated crops and planted clover after wheat to prevent soil erosion, build soil nutrients and soil tilth. He always kept 25-30% of his farm in hay and pasture for erosion control. In addition, Bernard was a member of the Hardin County Pork Producers and the Hardin County Pomona Grange. Both Bernard and Virginia always put in a hard day’s work to improve their farm, took the faithful to Painter Creek Grange and Otterbein Church, and were known for taking good care of their land and animals.

Tickets for the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $12, and available at the Hardin County Extension office (419-674-2297), or from the committee members: Andrew Flinn, Robert McBride, John Messmer, Kerry Oberlitner, Paul Ralston, Don Spar, Luke Underwood, Robert Wood, and Mark Badertscher. The deadline for ticket sales is November 25th.