Leadership Highland

Leadership Highland Explores Local Manufacturing

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

March 2, 2020

 

Leadership Highland explored local manufacturing by visiting several area businesses on February 26, 2020. The tour explored businesses in both Hillsboro and Greenfield.

David Higgins, of Higgins Steel Roofing, provided a guided tour of the warehouses at the business. Higgins demonstrated several metal presses that custom form orders for customers. Participants learned that currently the most popular color being used in metal construction is black and that Higgins Steel Roofing custom makes orders daily for customers.

Leadership Highland participants touring Higgins Steel Roofing.

Next, participants met with Todd Wilkin, city manager for the Village of Greenfield. Wilkin led the group on a tour of the Greenfield Industrial Park, local historical sites, and planned improvements to one of the parks. The Greenfield Industrial Park is one of two industrial parks in Highland County.

Leadership Highland meeting with Todd Wilkin, city manager for the Village of Greenfield.

While in Greenfield, Leadership Highland toured Greenfield Exempted Village School District’s McClain High School with Jason Potts, McClain High School Principal. Built by Edward McClain, the high school features a large collection of murals, artwork, and history.

Jason Potts, principal of McClain High School, provided a tour of the building. In this image, participants are in the library.

The final stop of the day was a tour of Weastec. Leadership Highland learned about the daily operations of the facility, where automotive parts are tested before being sent to vehicle manufactures.  Jim Tomko provided a presentation about the global presence Toyodenso Company, Weastec’s parent company. Toyodenso has facilities in the United States, Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and Germany.

For more information about Leadership Highland, or other OSU Extension programs, contact the OSU Extension office in Hillsboro at 937-393-1918.

Leadership Highland Explores Local Government

Left to right: Christian Dunlap, Bill Davis, Mel McKenzie, Jim Tomko, Jacob Alexander, Scott Lewis, Courtney Gallimore, Amanda Hall, Blaine Williams, and Highland County Engineer Chris Fauber in the shop at the Engineer’s Office.

Left to right: Christian Dunlap, Bill Davis, Mel McKenzie, Jim Tomko, Jacob Alexander, Scott Lewis, Courtney Gallimore, Amanda Hall, Blaine Williams, and Highland County Engineer Chris Fauber in the shop at the Engineer’s Office.

 

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

February 25, 2020

 

On January 29, 2020, participants in Leadership Highland met to learn more about local government in Highland County.

The day started by meeting with the Highland County Commissioners, where Commissioners Terry Britton and Jeff Duncan described their positions and the kinds of situations they deal with on a regular basis.

Judge Rocky Coss taught Leadership Highland participants about the Common Pleas Court and the history of the courtroom. Tom Horst led the group on a tour of the prosecutor’s office and the old jail. Horst also showed the circus posters that were repurposed for the roof of the old jail, which can be viewed from the attic of the building.

During lunch, the group discussed plans for their group project.

The final location that was visited during the day was the Highland County Engineer’s Office. Chris Fauber, Highland County Engineer, and Christian Dunlap, Deputy Engineer spoke about road construction projects in the county and the process of snow removal. Fauber and Dunlap provided at tour of the shop, salt storage facility, and where they make road signs in-house.

The next meeting of Leadership Highland will highlight local manufacturing. For more information about Leadership Highland, or other OSU Extension programming, contact the OSU Extension office in Hillsboro at 937-393-1918.

Leadership Highland Health and Public Safety Day

Brooke Beam, PhD

OSU Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

 

November 21, 2019

 

The Leadership Highland class of 2019-2020 met on November 20, 2019, for the health and public safety day in Hillsboro, Ohio. The class visited Highland District Hospital, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Highland County jail, Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, Highland County Health Department, and the Highland County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Tim Parry and Ashlee Cheesbro provided a guided tour of the Highland District Hospital. The hospital is in the process of adding an addition to the building, which will include a physical therapy department, surgical suites, other room for several other specializations. The new addition is expected to open in phases, with the first phase expected to open in early 2020. Parry and Cheesbro discussed partnerships with many area hospitals, including Children’s Hospitals and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Highland County Sheriff’s Office provided a tour of the county jail, the Sheriff’s office, and the 911 call center. The county jail has had an increase in inmates over the past few weeks, with a high of 103 inmates last week. So far in 2019, the 911 call center has handled over 14,000 911 calls. Annually, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office drives 450,000 miles on patrol. The Leadership Highland class also learned that the Highland County Sheriff’s Office has issued over 10,000 CCW (carrying a concealed weapon) permits.

The Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District responds to a range of 5,500 to 6,000 calls a year. The territory covered by Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District covers 362 square miles, including two townships in Ross County and part of a township in Fayette County. At the Hillsboro fire department, five individuals work every shift.  An additional two work at the Rocky Fork location and four work at the Greenfield location. Participants of Leadership Highland were given a tour of the fire department and an educational tour of the equipment that is used by the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District.

Highland County Health Department provided a tour of their offices. Staff described the various sub-divisions of the health department, including vital statistics, health education, restaurant inspections, tattoo inspections, and public health nursing.

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is directed by David Bushelman. The office provides coordination for response and recovery disasters.  Buchelman writes emergency plans for Highland County, which are updated every five years. The phases of emergency management that Bushelman follows are mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be held in early December covering regional economic development. For more information about Leadership Highland or other Extension programming, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Programs:

A Farm Bill Decision Meeting will be held on December 5, 2019, at 1575 North High Street, rooms 27 and 30B, in Hillsboro, Ohio. The meeting will start at 1 PM. The 2018 Farm Bill allows the choice to enroll in ARC or PLC for 2019-2023. Enrollment for 2019 is currently open with the deadline set as March 15, 2020. Join OSU Extension and the Farm Service Agency for an informational meeting to learn about important information to make the right selection for your farm.

Leadership Highland Regional Development Day

Brooke Beam, PhD

OSU Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

December 5, 2019

 

Leadership Highland met on December 4 to learn more about regional development, communication strategies, and local service. For the Regional Development day, Leadership Highland visited Samaritan Outreach Services and the Wilmington Air Park.

The day began with a communications workshop focused on video production and communication strategies for businesses. Participants learned about how videos are trending in global internet traffic and how to implement them into daily social media posts. Each participant learned how to set the cameras for an interview and the basic concepts of framing a scene.

Amatha Farrens, Blaine Williams, and Scott Lewis sort toy donations at Samaritan Outreach Services.

Leadership Highland learned first-hand about the duties of staff at the Samaritan Outreach Services by volunteering for part of the morning. The Leadership Highland class assisted patrons in selecting their groceries, helped sort toy donations for the Christmas toy drive, and helped package soap for senior boxes. Samaritan Outreach Services helps 900 families in Highland County have access to food, toiletries, coats, and toys for the holidays. Private donations are accepted. Toys are being collected for the annual toy drive, and they are low on items for teenagers at the moment. The date for the toys to be distributed to families is December 20.

The Leadership Highland class during the Regional Development Day with the gingerbread houses they constructed as a team building exercise.

Leadership Highland participants completed a teambuilding exercise by collaboratively constructing gingerbread houses. Mel McKenzie and Amatha Farrens won the competition for the best-decorated gingerbread house, followed by Amanda Hall and Courtney Gallimore with a gingerbread train and Bill Davis and Blaine Williams with an OSU v. Michigan themed gingerbread house. The completed gingerbread houses are on display in the OSU Extension Office in Hillsboro throughout the holiday season.

The final tour for the day was of the Wilmington Air Park. The tour included the maintenance facilities, a driving tour of the air park, and a visit to the control tower. The Amazon facility employs approximately 900 residents from a multi-county area. In total, there are 14 different employers located at the Wilmington Air Park who employ nearly 3,000 employees. Standing eleven stories tall, the control tower provides a unique perspective of the region. Structures in Xenia and Springboro are visible on clear days without the assistance of binoculars. Many Hillsboro features are not visible from the tower due to the rolling topography of Highland County.

Daniel Evers, Executive Director of the Wilmington Air Park, spoke to the Leadership Highland class about the Air Park.

The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be held at the end of January. For more information about Leadership Highland or other OSU Extension programs, contact OSU Extension, Highland County at 937-393-1918.

Leadership Highland Agriculture Day

Leadership Highland participants at the World Equestrian Center on October 30, 2019. Left to right: Brooke Beam, Kathy Bruins, Mel McKenzie, Amanda Hall, Courtney Gallimore, Blaine Williams, Amatha Farrens, Bill Davis, Jacob Alexander, and Scott Lewis.

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

November 4, 2019

On Wednesday, October 30, the 2019-2020 class of Leadership Highland met to learn about agriculture in the region. Leadership Highland class members toured the Highland County Extension Office, Brown Farms, Premier Grain, Bright Farms, and the World Equestrian Center.

The first stop on the Leadership Highland agriculture day was at the Highland County Extension Office. Brooke Beam and Kathy Bruynis provided an overview of the variety of Extension programming offered in the county, which includes 4-H, agriculture and natural resources, community development, family and consumer sciences, and SNAP Education. Dr. Beam provided an overview of the fertilizer and pesticide recertification courses offered for farmers annually, as well as the daily operations in the Extension Office.

The second tour of the day was to Brown Farms, where the group met with Nathan Brown. Mr. Brown, a first-generation farmer, learned by working with another local farmer to become established in the industry. Mr. Brown discussed the challenges facing the agriculture industry, cover crops, and mental health in the farming community. Brown Farms raises grain crops and beef cattle near New Vienna.

The third visit of the Leadership Highland agriculture day was to Premier Grain in Leesburg, where the group met with John Surber. Mr. Surber is the owner of Premier Grain, which operates several gain mills in the region. On this particular day, Premier Grain in Leesburg was filling shipping containers with grain for overseas markets. Mr. Surber discussed the logistics of transporting Highland County grain to Asia and the different uses of grain locally.

Due to the inclement weather, the afternoon of the Leadership Highland agriculture day was spent at indoor facilities. The first stop of the afternoon was to Bright Farms in Wilmington, Ohio. Bright Farms is a hydroponic greenhouse that raises multiple varieties of leafy greens. The greens are mature in 12 to 14 days after planting depending on the variety. Once harvested, the lettuce is delivered fresh to regional grocery stores and restaurants, which include WalMart, Jungle Jim’s, Damon’s in Wilmington, and the Escape Bar and Grill in Wilmington.

The final stop of the day was to the World Equestrian Center outside of Wilmington. The World Equestrian Center hosts 28 USEF rated hunter/jumper horse shows annually. The winter season of shows will begin in November. The tour of the facility included the show rings, stables, shops, and the Paddock Restaurant.

The next meeting of Leadership Highland is scheduled for the end of November, highlighting health and public safety. For more information about Leadership Highland or other Extension programming, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

Meet the Leadership Highland Class of 2019-2020

Leadership Highland class members from left to right: Blaine Williams, Jacob Alexander, Scott Lewis, Bill Davis, Mel McKenzie, Amatha Farrens, and Courtney Gallimore. Not pictured are Amanda Hall, Jim Tomko, and Scott Hopf.

Brooke Beam, PhD
Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator
Ohio State University Extension, Highland County
The second annual class of Leadership Highland net in September 25, 2019, at Rocky Fork State Park for their leadership retreat.
Class members of the 2019-2020 class of Leadership Highland are Blaine Williams, Jacob Alexander, Scott Lewis, Bill Davis, Mel McKenzie, Amatha Farrens, Courtney Gallimore, Amanda Hall, Jim Tomko, and Scott Hopf.
During the leadership retreat, class members learned about leadership strengths and their leadership styles. Matthew Bourne, of Rocky Fork State Park, met with the class to discuss the operation of Paint Creek and Rocky Fork State Parks. Lane Johnson, Rocky Fork State Park naturalist, guided the class on an afternoon kayaking excursion on Rocky Fork State Park, where participants received a lesson in kayaking safety and wildlife and aquatic species identification.
The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be held at the end of October, which will highlight local agriculture. For more information about Leadership Highland or OSU Extension programming, contact the Extension office at 937-393-1918.

Leadership Highland Celebrates the Graduation of the Class of 2018-2019

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

June 4, 2019

On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, the Leadership Highland Class of 2018-2019 celebrated their graduation from the program with a public presentation. The program was held in the Highland County Administration Building. Each member of the class presented about different aspects of the program, ranging from the leadership training sessions to tours of local and regional businesses.

Graduates of the Leadership Highland class of 2018-2019 are Elizabeth Brennfleck, Destiny Bryson, Melissa Elmore, Mathew Greene, Diana Grooms, Michael Hart, Rob Holt, and Michelle Unsworth.

We would like to thank the following businesses, organizations, and individuals for their support of the Leadership Highland program this year, they are listed in the chronological order they were visited during the Leadership Highland program:

Laurel Oaks Vocational School

Weastec

Highland County Board of DD

Bagshaw Enterprises

Edward Jones – Mat Greene

Highland County Visitors Bureau

Highland County Chamber of Commerce

Merchants National Bank

First State Bank

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Greenfield Exempted Village Schools

Rocky Fork State Park

Ohio State University Leadership Institute

Greenfield Historical Society

Hillsboro Historical Society

Jack Hope

Mayor Drew Hastings

Lynchburg Historical Society

180th Fighter Wing

Fallsville Wildlife Area

Davis Farms

David Daniels

Ohio State University South Centers

Highland District Hospital

Highland County Sheriff’s Office

Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District

Highland County Health Department

Highland County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency

Noreen’s School of Dance

Becky Nesbitt

Clinton County Port Authority

Highland County Commissioners

Tom Horst

Tom Parrin

Judge Rocky Coss

Highland County Engineer

Batter Up Bakery

Higgins Steel Roofing

Southern State Community College

Wilmington College

Greenfield Exempted Village School District

Senator Bob Peterson

Representative Shane Wilkin

Bright Local Schools

Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers

Subway-Walmart

Leadership Highland also partnered with Greenfield Exempted Village Schools students to create videos of the program. The above video is a brief history of the Historic Parker House and Bell’s Opera House in Hillsboro, OH. The content was filmed during the Leadership Highland tours in September of 2018 and edited as a high school class project.

For more information about the Leadership Highland program, please contact the Ohio State University Extension Office at 937-393-1918. Applications are being accepted through June 30, 2019, for the next class of Leadership Highland.

Upcoming Programs:

A Video Editing Workshop II will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2019, at 3 P.M. at the Lynchburg Library. This workshop will teach basic editing principles on both laptops and mobile devices. Bring your own computer or mobile device to participate. RSVP to the OSU Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

A Hops Workshop will be held on July 18, 2019. Cost to attend is $30.00 per person. The workshop will include lunch and a tour of Old Dutch Hops. Preregister at 937-393-1918 or visit the Highland County Extension office. The workshop will be held at the Ponderosa Center at 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, OH.

The Germinate International Film Fest will be accepting submissions through June 30, 2019. The festival will be held on August 16 & 17, 2019, in Hillsboro, Ohio. For more information or to apply, visithttps://filmfreeway.com/GerminateInternationalFilmFest. Contact Brooke Beam at the OSU Extension Office for more information at 937-393-1918.

Leadership Highland Graduation

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

May 21, 2019

The 2018-2019 class of Leadership Highland will be graduating on May 29, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of the Highland County Administration Building. The public is welcome to attend, but RSVPs are encouraged to beam.49@osu.edu.

The current class of the Leadership Highland program began in August of 2018 with a retreat at Rocky Fork State Park. Since August, the class has met monthly for a series of hands-on workshops and tours of local and regional businesses. Earlier in May, the participants completed their class project by collecting donations for the Bright Local Schools D.A.R.E. program graduation celebration. Sponsors of the class project included Weastec, Inc., Merchants National Bank, First State Bank, Southern State Community College, Walmart Subway, Edward Jones (Mat Greene), Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, and Ohio State University Extension.

The graduation program will include a brief presentation by the participants and light refreshments. To RSVP or for more information about the next class of Leadership Highland, contact the Ohio State University Extension Office in Highland County at 937-393-1918 or via email at beam.49@osu.edu.

 

Upcoming Programs:

A Video Editing Workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 3 P.M. at the Lynchburg Library. This workshop will teach basic editing principles on both laptops and mobile devices. Bring your own computer or mobile device to participate. RSVP to the OSU Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

A Hops Workshop will be held on July 18, 2019. Cost to attend is $30.00 per person. The workshop will include lunch and a tour of Old Dutch Hops. Preregister at 937-393-1918 or visit the Highland County Extension office. The workshop will be held at the Ponderosa Center at 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, OH.

The Germinate International Film Fest will be accepting submissions through June 30, 2019. The festival will be held on August 16 & 17, 2019, in Hillsboro, Ohio. For more information or to apply, visithttps://filmfreeway.com/GerminateInternationalFilmFest. Contact Brooke Beam at the OSU Extension Office for more information at 937-393-1918.

Leadership Highland Ohio Statehouse Tour

Leadership Highland participants met with Representative Shane Wilkin.
Leadership Highland participants shown on the staircase leading to the rotunda.
Leadership Highland participants in the Ohio Statehouse Cupola.
Melissa Elmore, Liz Brennfleck, Michelle Unsworth, and Diana Grooms outside the Ohio Statehouse.
The Cupola tour guide provided historical background on the construction of the Statehouse. The staircase shown in the picture leads to the cupola.
Participants of Leadership Highland pose in front of the fireplace in Senator Bob Peterson’s office.

Participants of Leadership Highland had the opportunity to tour the Ohio Statehouse in April. Senator Bob Peterson and Representative Shane Wilkin coordinated the tour of the Statehouse and the tour of the Ohio Statehouse Cupola. Diana Grooms, Scott Hopf, Melissa Elmore, Michelle Unsworth, and Liz Brennfleck attended the tour and were able to meet both Senator Peterson and Representative Wilkin.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to tour the Ohio Statehouse Cupola, the YouTube video below provides a virtual glimpse of the upper floor in the cupola looking west onto High Street in Columbus.

Leadership Highland Education Day

Leadership Highland participants at Laurel Oaks aviation hangar.

Members of Leadership Highland toured Laurel Oaks Vocational School in Wilmington, Ohio. Pictured from left to right are: Michelle Unsworth, Liz Brennfleck, Mike Hart, Brooke Beam, Mat Greene, Melissa Elmore, and Destiny Bryson.

Article by Michelle Unsworth, Leadership Highland participant

Photographs contributed by Brooke Beam, OSU Extension, Highland County

Leadership Highland spent their March meeting exploring local education by touring four schools and interacting in panel discussions. The panels discussed serving on a school board, The Southern Ohio Education Service Center, and challenges facing our local superintendents. The participants of Leadership Highland joined the participants of Leadership Clinton for part of the day to discuss the joint educational services offered to both counties.

Dr. Kevin Boys, President of Southern State Community College, hosted participants of Leadership Highland and Leadership Clinton at the SSCC Wilmington Campus for the panel discussions.

Dr. Kevin Boys, President of Southern State Community College, hosted participants of Leadership Highland and Leadership Clinton at the SSCC Wilmington Campus for the panel discussions.

Southern State Community College (SSCC) was the first stop of the day. Dr. Kevin Boys, President of SSCC, discussed enrollment and trends. Boys discussed the trend of lower community college enrollment rates when the job market is booming. When the economy shifts, people become more interested in learning a new skill to remain an employable candidate. Since unemployment is low, SSCC’s enrollment is 2,455 students, of which sixty-seven percent attend part-time. Boys also discussed the College Credit Plus program in which High School students take college classes.

Mike Hart led the participants of Leadership Highland on a tour of Laurel Oak's campus to see the variety of programs offered.

Mike Hart led the participants of Leadership Highland on a tour of Laurel Oak’s campus to see the variety of prorgams offered.

Laurel Oaks Vocational campus was the second tour of the day. Mike Hart, Assistant Principal, explained that many of the programs offered at Laurel Oaks maintain enrollment around 25 students per program and acceptance is competitive. Criteria such as GPA and attendance determine acceptance decisions. Laurel Oaks school provides students with a way to earn certificates and experience so they are prepared to enter the workforce directly after high school graduation.

Participants of Leadership Highland and Leadership Clinton, along with Dr. Kevin Boys and the tour guides from Wilmington College, prior to the walking tour of the Wilmington College campus.

Participants of Leadership Highland and Leadership Clinton, along with Dr. Kevin Boys and the tour guides from Wilmington College, prior to the walking tour of the Wilmington College campus.

Wilmington College was the third stop of the day. The history of the college and the facilities were showcased through a tour of the private school’s campus. Wilmington College offers financial assistance programs to entice local students to stay local during college. The goal after college is for graduates to accept jobs and remain local residents.

Mr. Jason Potts, principal of McClain High School, provided a tour of the historic high school.

Participants of Leadership Highland also traveled to Greenfield Exempted Village School District to tour the McClain High School with Mr. Jason Potts, the High School Principal. In addition to being one of Highland County’s high schools, the school is unique in the sense that it is historic and is home to an extensive art collection.

The superintendent panel addressed educational challenges in modern society. The panel explained how our educational system is vastly different than it was ten years ago. A huge concern is that today’s children are not prepared to be successful. There has been an increase in social and emotional issues that children are experiencing in life, which hinders the learning process. Issues such as poverty, drug abuse, neglect, and social media can leave students emotionally traumatized. Schools are no longer teaching kids solely academics, as schools must adjust their way of thinking and prepare kids to be successful in school and life. Mindy McCarty Stewart, Wilmington City Schools Superintendent, explained how Wilmington’s schools train all teachers (K-12) in trauma training so they know how to interact with children of drug abuse or other emotional issues. They are also using restorative practice training to reintegrate students and involve the parents regarding issues. For example, simply suspending a student does not help anyone, having them take ownership of their actions and learn from it is a better approach.

The big lesson of the day was learning that schools K-12 are evolving to keep up with the social and environmental trends many students face when they are home. Schools have adapted to meet societal needs. Our educational systems are working hard to teach children things they may not have learned at home or to find ways to relate to traumatized children so they open up to learning. This is essential so our young children have opportunities later in life to participate in College Credit Plus programs, attend vocational schools and eventually be ready to attend college if that is their best choice.

The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be a tour of the Ohio Statehouse in April. For more information about Leadership Highland, contact the OSU Extension Office of Highland County at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Programs:

Join the Highland County Extension Support Committee for the annual Extension/4-H Fundraiser on Saturday, April 6, 2019, in the Rabbit & Poultry Barn at the Highland County Fairgrounds. The dinner will begin at 6 PM. Dinner costs: ages 11 and up are $10.00, ages 4 – 10 are $7.00, and ages 3 and under are $3.00. For more information, contact Kathy Bruynis at 937-393-1918. Donations are appreciated.

Global Climate Change Update with Dr. Thomas Blaine will be held on April 25, 2019, at 6 PM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH. Come and learn about the history of climate change, its currents trends, and outlook. Hear how it applies to your backyard, farm, and everyday life. RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918.

Forage Webinar with Christine Gelley will be held on April 30, 2019, at 5 PM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH. Gelley will discuss a variety of forage-related topics to help you prepare for the 2019 growing season and upcoming winter. This webinar will provide information for both hay and livestock producers. RSVP to reserve your seat by calling 937-393-1918.

The Germinate International Film Fest will be accepting submissions through June 30, 2019. The festival will be held on August 16 & 17, 2019, in Hillsboro, Ohio. For more information or to apply visit https://filmfreeway.com/GerminateInternationalFilmFest. Contact Brooke Beam at the OSU Extension Office of Highland County at 937-393-1918.