News tips and events for the week of Sept. 23

Writer(s): 
A blue dasher dragonfly.

Tip 1: Dragonfly migration leaving unanswered questions. MaLisa Spring, an alumna of the CFAES master’s degree program in entomology, serves as state coordinator of the Ohio Dragonfly Survey. Hordes of dragonflies have recently shown up on weather radar in the eastern United States. While there are still a lot of unanswered questions about dragonfly migrations, Spring said several species do fly south in the late summer and early fall. “This year, it seems like the numbers are much larger as a lot more people are reporting them,” she was quoted as saying in a Sept. 19 story on the CNN website. Contact Spring at spring.99@osu.edu.

Tip 2: Ohio State ATI professor named National Educator of the Year. Laura Deeter, professor of horticulture technologies at Ohio State ATI in Wooster, was one of three university educators named a 2019 Educator of the Year in a national program sponsored by the software company Instructure. Deeter turned her plant identification course into a game about plants and zombies and gave students a unique and exciting learning experience. She likes to test out new ways of teaching and incorporates nontraditional classroom activities, such as gamification, that will help her students in their future careers. By gamifying her course, student engagement with the course skyrocketed. Ohio State ATI is the two-year degree-granting unit of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Contact Deeter at 330-287-1238 or deeter.7@osu.edu.
 

September 2019

23 Foodpreneur School, 2–6:30 p.m., Keller Market House, 134 S. Columbus St., Lancaster, Ohio. A two-part workshop (Sept. 23 and 30) for food entrepreneurs who are poised to grow their businesses. Those interested must apply by 5 p.m. on Aug. 15. Food entrepreneurs will be notified of their selection and scholarship availability by Aug. 22. Cost: $125 per person due by Sept. 9; Ohio Farm Bureau Federation member price is $75. Limited number of scholarships available. Details: osucooperatives@osu.edu or 740-289-2071, ext. 111. To register: go.osu.edu/foodpreneur.

30 Animals in Our Lives Featuring Dr. Temple Grandin, 5–8 p.m., Dave Thomas Conference Center, 1 Dave Thomas Blvd., Dublin, Ohio. Hosted by CFAES’ Center for Human-Animal Interactions Research and Education (CHAIRE). Will include a short introduction to CHAIRE, a plated dinner, a silent auction, animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and a presentation by Temple Grandin. This is a fundraising event for CHAIRE and seats are limited. General admission: $100 per person; $750 for an eight-person table. VIP Admission: $150 per person; $1,100 for an eight-person table. Details: Brittany Fischer, 614-292-1073 or chaire@osu.edu. To register: go.osu.edu/Templegrandin.

October 2019

2 New Pesticide Applicator Training, morning session starts at 9 a.m.; afternoon session starts at 1 p.m.; Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Bromfield Administration Building, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. To register or for more information, call the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987 or visit go.osu.edu/pestprep.

5 Autumn Discovery Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Secrest Arboretum Welcome Center, Wooster Campus, 2122 Williams Road, Wooster, Ohio. Fall is a great time for planting trees and shrubs. Friends of Secrest Arboretum invite you to browse an expanded selection of new and unique plants for sale, talk to the experts, and explore the natural beauty of our grounds. All proceeds support arboretum research and education programs. The sale takes place rain or shine. 

9 Tree Walk, 1–2 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Features a range of tree-related topics including selection, planting, pests, and diseases. Free, no registration required. Details: 330-263-3761.

11 Fascinating Woodland Fungi, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ovalwood Hall, Ohio State Mansfield Campus, 1760 University Drive, Mansfield, Ohio. Fungi of many types are often overlooked, ignored, and/or avoided by visitors to the woods because people don’t know what they are, or people have been misinformed as to the importance and dangers of the fungi. Learn fungi life histories, their ecological importance, and their diversity. Cost: $40; includes snacks, lunch, and class materials. For more information and to register, visit go.osu.edu/BYyx.  

23 Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ohio Department of Agriculture, Bromfield Administration Building, 8995 East Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This course is required to receive state certification to conduct wood-destroying insect inspections for real estate transactions. Cost: $90 preregistration (lunch included); $100 on-site registration (lunch not included). For more information and to register, visit go.osu.edu/BYyz.

25 School Garden Conference, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Explore project-based learning related to the school garden at the sixth annual School Garden Conference, hosted by 4-H personnel from the Franklin County office of OSU Extension. Educators, after-school personnel, and others are invited to attend. Whether you are a new or an experienced educational gardener, don’t miss the 2019 School Garden Conference. The $50 registration fee includes lunch and all materials. Register at go.osu.edu/sgc2019. Cancellations made after Oct. 18 will not be eligible for a refund.

November 2019

13 Is Your Project Financially Sound? Financial Concepts for Natural Resource Professionals, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Registration: $50 includes lunch and materials. Register and learn more information at go.osu.edu/BbWx.

13 Tree Walk, 1–2 p.m., Seaman Orientation Plaza, Secrest Arboretum, Wooster Campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, Ohio. Features a range of tree-related topics including selection, planting, pests, and diseases. Free, no registration required. Details: 330-263-3761.

19 Livestock Mortality Composting, noon–2 p.m., Mahoning County office of OSU Extension, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield. Poultry, dairy, swine, beef cattle, and other livestock producers wanting to learn economically and environmentally beneficial ways to handle the death of their animals can earn livestock mortality composting certification through a course offered by CFAES experts. Registration is $25 and includes lunch, materials, and handouts. Register at go.osu.edu/livestockcomposting2.

21 Private Pesticide Applicator Testing, all day, testing begins at 10 a.m., Portage County office of OSU Extension, 705 Oakwood St., Room 101, Ravenna, Ohio. To register, call Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987 or visit go.osu.edu/pesticide_exams.

Writer(s): 
Sherrie R. Whaley
614-292-2137