Community Development

Southern Ohio Farm Show for July 8, 2020

Join Highland County 4-H members Brooklyn Baldwin, Aubrey Hamilton, Sydney Hamilton, Sam Hamilton, Keaton Smith, Aston Bain, and Sophie Young as they discuss their 4-H livestock projects. Additionally, there is a weather outlook from Aaron Wilson, video production tips with Brooke Beam, and how to identify a Buckeye tree with Dave Apsley. Tune in live next Wednesday via Zoom at 10 A.M. by registering at https://go.osu.edu/thesouthernohiofar…

New Southern Ohio Farm Show Episode

 

This week on the Southern Ohio Farm Show we start a new reoccurring segment on career exploration with a Los Angeles-based television producer, an updated weather report, learn about ticks, tree identification, and an activity for 4-H camp-at-home. Tune in to next week’s live Zoom broadcast of the Southern Ohio Farm Show on Wednesday, July 1, at 10 AM for a patriotic themed episode, complete with fireworks, by registering via https://go.osu.edu/thesouthernohiofarms…

2020 Jr. Fair Deadlines fast approaching for animals.

Please remember the changes for 2020 Possession/Tagging

As we all know this has not been a normal year and we are trying to help out as much as possible.  We understand that people have not worked for a month and that some are out of work still.  We have decided to extend the possession date 1 month to allow more time for exhibitors to get animals.

***** Animals must be in possession by JULY 1, 2020!!!*****

Tagging will be done when you cross the scales at the fair.  All MARKET ANIMALS need to turn pictures and paperwork in by JULY 1, 2020.  There will be 3 options:

  1. There is a mail drop at the Jr. Fair Board office that you can leave your paperwork.
  2. Mail it to Highland County Junior Fair Board, Attention Jana Holbrook, PO Box 564, Hillsboro, OH 45133.
  3. Email to highlandcojrfair@yahoo.com (make the Subject the market species and if you have more than one market species do an email for each species, families can be put together in one email.)

The information paper needed for each species will be emailed out to advisors and will be on the Extension webpage ( highland.osu.edu ) for you to copy off and return with your pictures.  Pictures need to be of each side of the animal and must be a hard copy and not emailed to me.  We no longer need to fill out the affidavits (green paper).  Feeder calves will still need to do the Pre-Conditioning papers (yellow).  They are due August 15th! 

***You only need to turn back in the information paper and pictures by July 1, 2020.  Please fill out the papers completely!

***Chicken order forms still need to be turned in by June 1 so they can get ordered from the hatchery!

***REMEMBER THIS IS ONLY FOR THE 2020 HIGHLAND CO. JR FAIR!!!!!

For additional changes and updates for 2020 Jr. Fair please visit https://highland.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/judging-schedules.

Sweeten your Summer Desserts with Local Strawberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooke Beam, PhD

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

 

Strawberries are ready to pick in our region, providing a great family outing to a u-pick stand as well as making a great dessert. While COVID-19 may have changed some procedures at u-pick strawberry stands, they are open for business when the weather is cooperative. Be sure to check with the farm to determine strawberry availability, hours of operation, and whether or not you need to bring a mask. You can also check local farmers markets for strawberries if you would rather not pick your own berries.

As I reside in Clinton County, I am a fan of the banana split. Wilmington is where the banana split originated in 1907, although it should be noted that this claim is contested with a town in Pennsylvania. In the early 1900s, you could purchase a banana split for just $0.10. However, it will cost a little more today to purchase or make a banana split.

Due to COVID-19, the banana split festival was cancelled for this year, however this provides the opportunity to create your own version of a banana split with your local strawberries. The traditional banana split is a combination of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream, a banana, chocolate sauce, pineapple, strawberries, whipped cream, nuts, and cherries.

While there are endless uses for strawberries this season, I encourage you to try a new recipe and incorporate local ingredients into your kitchen.

Share the Road With Farmers this Spring

Brooke Beam, PhD

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

May 26, 2020

Spring planting season has arrived in Highland County. Farmers have faced a challenging spring due to wet weather conditions, and in particular the large quantities of rain we received last week have delayed planting.

Due to the weather delays, when the planting conditions are right again, you will see many area farmers rushing to plant their crops.

When you see farm equipment on the road, the first thing you should do is slow down. It isn’t an inconvenience to take a few extra minutes to ensure your safety and the safety of the individual driving the farm machinery.

Farm equipment is large and slow-moving. The equipment is marked with reflective slow moving vehicle emblems (SMV), reflective markers, and flashing lights to make the equipment easier to see in low-light conditions.

In most cases, tractor drivers will pull over and let traffic pass when it is safe to do so. However, passing is not advised near intersections. Passing is also not advised on roads with no passing zones (double yellow lines) or on roads where on-coming traffic visibility is reduced due to hills, curves, or dips in the road. Be sure to look for hand signals from the tractor driver indicating that it is safe to pass.

When it is safe to pass farm equipment, be sure to identify the edges of all of the equipment. In many cases, attachments to tractors are larger than the tractor itself.

Slow down, use caution and common sense when driving near farm equipment this spring. Take a few extra minutes to protect yourself, your passengers, and your local farmers as we all go on drives this spring.

 

Next Week on the Southern Ohio Farm Show

Next week’s episode on the Southern Ohio Farm Show will cover information about canning with Margaret Jenkins, Family and Consumer Science Extension Educator in Clermont County.

This Week on the Southern Ohio Farm Show

In this week’s episode of the Southern Ohio Farm Show, there was a weather forecast by Dr. Aaron Wilson, a conversation about the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), a gardening activity for youth, tips for growing strawberries, and a reason to keep an eye in the sky on clear nights. Next week, we will have another weather outlook, continued discussions about local foods and Coronavirius Food Assistance Program. Tune in next Wednesday at 10 AM for another new episode of the Southern Ohio Farm Show via https://go.osu.edu/thesouthernohiofarmshowregistration