COLUMBUS, Ohio – Virgil Strickler, who retired in February 2024 as the longest-serving general manager in the history of the Ohio Expo Center and Ohio State Fair, was honored with The Ohio State University’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award during autumn commencement exercises Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Strickler’s career has been defined by his unwavering commitment to Ohio’s agricultural youth. He is best known for his leadership of the Ohio State Fair and for creating the nationally recognized Youth Reserve Program, which has awarded more than $4.6 million in scholarships to over 44,500 youth exhibitors since 1995. In 2023, the program was renamed the “Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program” to honor...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Jan. 14 Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) breakfast program will offer strategies to limit the release of methane into the atmosphere.
The EPN — a service of The School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences — is kicking off its 2025 breakfast program series with “Moo-ving Methane: Converting Ohio’s dairy farm manure into an energy source.” The event will address the need for innovative solutions that can mitigate the impact of methane dairy farming on our climate.
“The breakfast panel will feature speakers from all sides of Ohio’s climate-smart agricultural network, including farmers, energy providers, and researchers,...
WOOSTER, Ohio — What’s in a Christmas tree?
For researchers at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), it’s decades of exploration and study, tree breeding, and a deep commitment to growing the perfect conifer. This holiday season, their hard work is taking root in a new initiative: the Ohio State CFAES Demonstration Christmas Tree Farm on the CFAES Wooster campus.
While the farm is still in the works, excitement is already growing.
Spanning 6.5 acres at Secrest Arboretum, this new farm will serve as an educational hub for Ohio’s Christmas tree growers. The project will focus on helping new and experienced growers alike learn best practices for tree farming, from planting to pruning. It’s a place...
Columbus, OH — Travis West, Ohio State University Extension educator for Ohio 4-H youth development in Vinton County, was the recipient of the Charles W. Lifer Excellence in 4-H Award at the 2024 OSU Extension conference. Named in honor of and sponsored by the former state 4-H leader, the Charles W. Lifer Excellence in 4-H Award is presented annually to an Ohio 4-H educator who has demonstrated exceptional achievements in their career and has made a major contribution to 4-H programs.
West has done just that, impacting the lives of thousands of youths through community clubs, SPIN clubs, school programs, and camps.
A Vinton County 4-H volunteer commented, “Over my years of involvement with the 4-H program, one thing has remained the same: Travis’ determination to...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohio’s agricultural community prepares for 2025, many farmers, growers, producers, and agribusinesses face continued economic pressures, including declining commodity prices, rising production costs, and ongoing uncertainty in trade and labor markets, according to agricultural economists from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
Adapting to these challenges will require strategic planning and proactive steps, said Ian Sheldon, CFAES professor and holder of The Andersons Endowed Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Policy in the CFAES Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE).
“Farmers will face a tough year as commodity prices remain low and...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mary Gardiner, a professor in the Department of Entomology at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been named a 2024-2025 Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The honorific title, awarded annually on a competitive basis to full professors, recognizes outstanding contributions and significant impact in teaching, research, outreach, and engagement.
“Mary Gardiner is an exceptional researcher, mentor, and leader whose work exemplifies the best of CFAES and Ohio State,” said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean. “Gardiner’s research has transformed urban ecology, focusing...
Ohio Sea Grant, on behalf of The Ohio State University, The University of Toledo and the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), has released the 2024 research findings update for the statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI), which seeks solutions for harmful algal blooms in Ohio.
The initiative currently consists of 48 science teams working on different critical knowledge gaps identified by front-line state agencies that include the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The 2024 report highlights that the state of Ohio continues to benefit from the initiative:
Researchers are working directly...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For many older adults in Ohio, navigating the complexities of prescription medications can be a daily challenge. Thanks to a partnership between The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and the university’s College of Pharmacy, vital education is helping older Ohioans safely manage their medications and live healthier lives.
Through Ohio State University Extension, CFAES’ outreach arm, educators are delivering Generation Rx programming to communities across the state, providing critical resources and tools to prevent medication misuse among older adults. The program was established in 2007 at the College of Pharmacy to teach safe medication-taking practices across the lifespan.
The results have...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Turkey pot pie anyone?
As you think of clever ways to serve up those Thanksgiving leftovers, remember to keep food safety in mind. After all, you and your guests eagerly awaiting Nanna’s famous sweet potato casserole or other holiday leftover favorites, deserve to enjoy these dishes safely and worry-free.
Sanja Ilic, food safety expert with The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), emphasizes the importance of understanding how to handle and store Thanksgiving leftovers.
“The recommended refrigerated storage time for different foods can vary, but in general, the time is quite short,” said Ilic, who is a food safety state specialist with Ohio State University Extension, CFAES’...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – As deer populations continue to grow across Central Ohio, communities are facing increasing challenges in managing their impact on local environments and human safety. To address these issues, the Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) will host a breakfast on Dec. 2 to explore how local communities are collaborating to manage deer populations and reduce wildlife conflicts.
The event will feature representatives from Worthington and Gahanna, Ohio, along with wildlife officers, who will share research and strategies for managing deer across jurisdictional boundaries. Attendees will learn about successful management approaches, best practices, and key lessons from communities working together to address this ongoing challenge.
This talk highlights the...
