Month: October 2019

Steer Tagging

Steer Tagging

The 2020 Highland County Jr. Fair Steer Tag in will be Saturday, January 11, 2020 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. at Union Stockyards on State Route 138 east of Hillsboro. Tune in to Buckeye Country 105.5 for cancellations due to weather.

Ghosts, Ghouls, Goblins and Pumpkins

Brooke Beam, PhD

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

October 25, 2019

 

Next week, many of your doorsteps will be greeted by trick-or-treaters. Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays to celebrate, due in part to seeing the creative costumes kids decide to wear, carving pumpkins, and the retelling of spooky stories. No matter which characters may grace your doorstep this coming week, the tradition of Halloween can be enjoyable for all ages.

My background in agricultural communication is based in qualitative research, which essentially means that I have participated in research studies that evaluate written and spoken words. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, now famously referred to as the Brothers Grimm for their collection of children’s stories, were also qualitative researchers who were interested in researching and preserving German folklore and stories.  The Brothers Grimm traveled throughout Germany and interviewed people they encountered to collect information on the tales of the region.

The collection of stories was never intended to be used as children’s stories, but rather as a study of folklore. According to National Geographic writer, Isabel Hernández, the Brothers Grimm fairy tales were much more gruesome in their original retelling and required extensive editing before they were considered appropriate for children’s literature. Some of the Grimm’s stories include Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Rumpelstiltskin, among others. So if you see any of the characters from these stories on Halloween, you can thank two pioneering qualitative researchers.

Beyond the characters we see for trick-or-treat, pumpkins are another highlight of Halloween and fall. While Illinois ranks first in the nation in pumpkin production, Ohio is one of the top 6 states for pumpkin production in the United States along with Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and California. In Ohio, there are 6 to 7 thousand acres of pumpkins planted annually. The pumpkin industry in Ohio generates an annual value of production in excess of over 10 million dollars.

There are dozens of hybrids of pumpkins, but according to Jim Jasinski, Associate Professor and Extension Educator for Ohio State University, the best kind of pumpkin to carve for Halloween is, of course, the biggest one. Jasinski coordinates the pumpkin research trials at the Western Agriculture Research Station near South Charleston, Ohio, where he raises over 20 hybrids of pumpkins for research projects. Jasinski recommends pumpkins like Baby Pam, or sugar pumpkins, for pumpkin pie making. However, the selection of decorative pumpkins is mostly personal preference.

Finally, I hope every trick-or-treater has a safe Halloween this year. Happy haunting to all this Halloween and may your Ohio-grown pumpkin look frightfully delightful on your porch. For more information about OSU Extension programming, contact the Highland County Extension office at 937-393-1918 or visit highland.osu.edu.

 

Upcoming Programs:

Beef Quality Assurance and Transport Quality Assurance trainings will be held on Monday, October 28, 2019, in Xenia. BQA will start at 5:00 P.M. and BQA transport will be held at 6:30 P.M. The cost for BQA training is $10.00 per person. Transport BQA is free to attend. Contact the Greene County Extension Office at 9370372-9971 or email corboy.3@osu.edu by October 24 to register.

 

Holiday Gift Ideas

Looking for a perfect gift for someone?  Sun Catchers and Yard Signs making great add on gifts for the person who loves 4-H!

4-H Sun Catchers-  $15, visit highland.osu.edu/news/support-highland-county-4-h for more information or stop by Extension Office to purchase.

4-H Yard Signs- Purchase a Yard Sign for $5.50 at the OSU Extension Office.

 

Making other purchases?  Participating in these additional rewards helps Extension provide programming for the community while you shop everyday with no additional cost to you.

Amazon Smile- Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.

AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products same prices, same service.

Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/

Kroger Community Rewards- sign up at krogercommunityrewards.com – support Highland County 4-H, Organization #QJ706

Community Markets Community Cash- Save your Community Markets Receipts and drop them off at the Extension Office.

Carving New Ideas

Carving New Ideas (CNI) is a camping opportunity that concentrates on the principles of critical thinking and program facilitation.  CNI is open to all 4-H members current;y in eighth to twelfth grade.  Campers will develop leadership and citizenship skills while making new friends from across Ohio.  Camp is held at Camp Ohio in St. Louisville, OH from November 15-17.

Cost is $65 (includes t shirt)Registration deadline is October 28th.

Looking for new opportunities? Check out these applications.

Highland County Junior Leadership

Junior Leaders is open to any youth 13 and in the 8th grade. The next meeting is October 24 at 5:45 p.m. in the food booth at the Highland County Fairgrounds.  Come join this leadership opportunity. Please contact the Extension office for more information.

 

Jr. Fair Board  Applications – Due November 4, 2019

Encourage your teens to apply for this leadership opportunity, to be eligible for Junior Fair Board, teens must be 15 as of January 1, 2020 or a sophomore in high school. 4-H and At-Large Junior Fair Board applications are available at the Extension Office and online at:   https://highland.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/forms-applications-resources Applications are due by Monday, November 4, 2019 by 4:00 p.m. to the Extension Office.

 

4-H Camp Counselor Applications – Due January 9, 2020

The 4-H Camp Counselors are a group of 4-H teens selected to assist in being responsible for campers during 4-H camp. As a result of participation, counselors will develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and aspirations needed for adult success, and the Highland County 4-H program will be strengthened and expanded.  Applications are available  in the Extension office or online at:         https://highland.osu.edu/sites/highland/files/imce/2020%20%20Camp%20Counselor%20Application.pdf.  The deadline to apply for 2020 is before January 9, 2020 by 4:00 p.m. in the Extension Office.

 

New Volunteer Applications

Now is the time to recruit new volunteers for 2020! Any adult who is going to be alone with 4-H members must go through the volunteer selection process. If volunteers want to be active in 2020, they need to complete the selection process. Applications for new advisors will be due the last Thursday in February in 2020. The forms are available through the Extension office.

Advisor Trainings

January 18, 2020  9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

February 6, 2020    6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

February 17,   2020  9:00 – 11:30  a.m.

*March 25, 2020  6:00 – 9:30 p.m.

*New Advisor Training Night

 

4-H Committee Members Needed

Nominate yourself or someone else to serve on the Highland County 4-H Committee! Committee volunteers are comprised of volunteer advisors, parents and the business community. The terms are below. Contact Kathy or Danielle at (937) 393-1918  for nominations for one of the following positions:

1 – NE (Leesburg, Greenfield, Hillsboro) – 3 yr. term

1 – NW (Leesburg, Lynchburg, Hillsboro) – 3 yr. term

1 – SE (Berrysville, Belfast, Sinking Spring) – 3 yr. term

1 – SW (Buford, Mowrystown) – 2 & 3 yr. terms

1 – At-Large – 3 yr. term

Searching for Alternative Agriculture Income on the Farm?

Brooke Beam, PhD

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

October 14, 2019

 

If you are looking for additional income for your farm, you are not alone. Depending on your interests and time commitment availability, there are many options to explore. While many individuals seek off-farm income by working for other businesses, there are opportunities to create extra income by using existing facilities on your farm.

For many travelers, Airbnb or VRBO has become a viable option for their accommodations while traveling. An Airbnb or VRBO is a privately-owned property that can be booked online or through a mobile app. The property owner provides a furnished space for the traveler to spend the night, and the traveler pays for the accommodation through the online site.

Several Highland County property owners have already listed their properties on Airbnb and VRBO as available for rent. With prices varying from $80 to $300 per night, there is a variety of options available for travelers. Airbnb and VRBO both charge a booking fee that can be passed to either the property owner or the traveler, but also provides reviews of the property as well as the renters. Properties available on Airbnb and VRBO vary in their styles and can be as rustic or refined as the property owner desires.

In order to list a property through one of the booking sites, the property owner must provide detailed pictures of the space, choose a price, and provide an accurate description of the location and accommodations. The spaces that can be rented through Airbnb or VRBO do not necessarily need to be stand-alone buildings, they can include spare bedrooms, in-law suites, loft above barns, or individual houses or cabins.

Airbnb also offers “Experiences” to travelers, and most relevant to Highland County farmers is the animal experiences that can be offered. According to the Airbnb website, their animal experiences are “the new standard for animal tourism” and the experiences follow “guidelines created with World Animal Protection, an organization committed to improving the lives of animals.”

In particular, there are “farm experiences” available for purchase. These experiences vary depending on the location and species of animal. For instance, you can cuddle goats in Albany, New York for $10.00, have a picnic with alpacas in Kansas City for $20, trail ride through the North Carolina Mountains for $65, or have a farm-to-table experience in Muir Beach, California, for $85 per person.

If any of these tourism-based on-farm income generators sound interesting to you, you may want to browse the Airbnb and VRBO sites to get ideas on vacation rentals and farm experiences. Additionally, you might consider staying in one, or encourage your visiting friends and relatives to stay in an Airbnb or VRBO the next time they travel in order to see if it is something you would seriously like to pursue. For more information about OSU Extension programming, contact the Highland County Extension office at 937-393-1918 or visit highland.osu.edu.

 

Upcoming Programs:

Beef Quality Assurance and Transport Quality Assurance trainings will be held on Monday, October 28, 2019, in Xenia. BQA will start at 5:00 P.M. and BQA transport will be held at 6:30 P.M. The cost for BQA training is $10.00 per person. Transport BQA is free to attend. Contact the Greene County Extension Office at 9370372-9971 or email corboy.3@osu.edu by October 24 to register.

 

THANK YOU!

Thank You

Youth, advisors, and parents had a busy couple of months as members showcased their projects at Pre-Fair Judging, Skillathons, and the Highland County Fair.  We honored their hard work with ‘flair” at judging, shows and awards ceremonies.

You make a difference in the lives of over 750 youth in traditional clubs and over 300 through in-school programming throughout Highland County. Thank you for making the 2019 program year a success.

Thank you to all those who worked in the food booth. Those funds help support 4-H programming such as: camp and college scholarships, awards, yearly pins, and much more.

Don’t forget to send Thank You’s for all awards and buyers.

Fall QA, first of 2020 season

The first Quality Assurance for 2020 will be offered Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in the Wharton Building at the Highland County Fairgrounds.  Call the Extension office at

937-393-1918 to register or email Kathy at bruynis.5@osu.edu by October 10th. Please include youth name, club and a contact phone number.  Sign up now to get a jump start on the 2020 4-H program year.

Upcoming dates

Upcoming Dates

Oct. 6-12  National 4-H Week

Oct. 12  1st QA for 2020 4-H year at the Warton Building 9:00 a.m.

Jan. 11  Steer Tag-In at the Union Stockyards 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Feb. 1-2 Teen Winter Retreat

Feb. 23-24 Making Extreme Counselors

Apr. 4-5 Counselor College

May 3  Canter’s Cave Open House

May 8-9 Spring Fling

May 29-31 State Special Needs Camp

Jun. 4-6 STEM Camp

Jun. 6-7 Cloverbud Overnight

Jun. 8-11 Beginner Camp

Jun. 15-18 Jr. High Camp

Jun. 22-25 Teen Camp

Jun. 26-28 Junior Shooting Sports Camp

Jul. 19-24 Senior Shooting Sports Camp