COLUMBUS, Ohio — Registration is now open for the Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO, offering high school students a unique opportunity to explore a variety of career pathways on June 11–14 at The Ohio State University Columbus campus.
“Spark EXPO offers students an invaluable chance to discover and explore career opportunities through engaging, hands-on experiences that inspire growth and confidence,” said Margo Overholt-Seckel, program manager for Ohio 4-H Workforce Development and Pathways. “It’s exciting to see participants uncover new interests, build essential skills, and form connections that set them on the path to a successful future.”
Hosted by Ohio 4-H youth development, part of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to ban Red No. 3 — a synthetic dye linked to cancer in animal studies — may leave some food manufacturers searching for safer alternatives. Groundbreaking research from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) offers a promising solution.
Monica Giusti, a distinguished professor and associate department chair in the CFAES Department of Food Science and Technology, has pioneered research on anthocyanins — natural pigments responsible for the vibrant hues in fruits like blackberries, red cabbage, and grapes. These compounds present an exciting opportunity to replace synthetic dyes while potentially offering health benefits....
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...
