2015 Down on the Farm

down on the

A SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE & 4-H IN COSHOCTON COUNTY

• Farmer’s Market Season Almost Here - Page 6 • Porteus Brothers Awarded Outstanding Conservation Farmer - Page 10 • County Farm Program Update - Page 15

Goats keep Fresno area woman busy

By Josie Sellers

QUINTUPLETS Every single one of Karen Cutshall’s does gave birth to multiple kids this spring, including this one, which had quintuplets. BEACON PHOTO BY JOSIE SELLERS

RUNT Tuffy, the runt of Karen Cutshall’s quintuplets that were born this spring is bottle fed to help him gain strength. BEACON PHOTO BY JOSIE SELLERS

FRESNO – Spring time is extremely busy for Karen Cutshall, who lives on a farm outside of Fresno.

“It’s crazy, especially when one of the goats has five babies,”

said Cutshall, who is 69 and has raised goats since she was 14-yearsold. “I also had three sets of triplets and three sets of twins. It’s been a long birthing season.”

She said it’s not unusual for goats to have twins or triplets, but she has only seen quintuplets born a few times.

“The five are all doing well,” Cutshall said. “Tuffy, the smallest, is completely on the bottle. I didn’t think he was alive when he was born. He was the last one I pulled out. I delivered all five of them and the first three were breach.”

Tuffy spent some time inside Cutshall’s home, but is now out in the barn with his siblings and mother Pache`.

“She was huge,” Cutshall said. “I knew there was more than one in there. I thought maybe four, but there was actually five.”

When it’s birthing season, which for her goats is typically the end of March to first of April, she has to check on the mother goats every three hours and sleeps when she can.

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SEE ‘GOATS’ ON PAGE 3

DOWN ON THE FARM

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Positively Coshocton County

Published by Good Fortune Advertising, LLC 226 Main Street, Coshocton, Ohio 43812 Phone: 740-622-4237 • Fax: 740-623-9937 www.coshoctonbeacontoday.com

OWNER/PUBLISHER - MARK FORTUNE mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com CIRCULATION & CLASSIFIED - NICOLE MEDLEY nicole@coshoctoncountybeacon.com GRAPHIC ARTIST – JOE JOHNSTON joe@coshoctoncountybeacon.com SALES CONSULTANT - SANDY GRIER sandy@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

SALES CONSULTANT - NINA DRINKO nina@coshoctoncountybeacon.com REPORTING & GRAPHICS - BETH SCOTT beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com NEWS & CONTENT EDITOR - JOSIE SELLERS josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com ©2015 GOOD FORTUNE ADVERTISING LLC

Disclaimer: The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising for any reason. The publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the publisher’s employees or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. Classified refunds will be given only on mistakes reported during the first time the ad appears in The Coshocton County Beacon. Any reproduction without written consent of the publisher is prohibited. 2014 The Coshocton County Beacon

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APRIL 8, 2015

Down on the Farm

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Ohio Department of Agriculture accepting specialty crop grant proposals

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REYNOLDSBURG - The Ohio Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for the 2015 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which will provide funding for projects to enhance the competitiveness of crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and nursery crops.

Grant funding is provided by the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service. The deadline for online grant proposal submissions is 4 p.m. Monday, June 1. Grants will range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $150,000. In addition, all applicants must provide a minimum match of 25 percent of the requested grant amount.

Project proposals are sought that will advance the long-term economic viability of the state’s specialty crop industry while increasing the marketability of specialty crops.

Higher rankings will be given to projects that demonstrate profit potential for grow-

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Food and agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, associations or commodity groups, universities and research institutions are eligible to submit specialty crop proposals.

For information, available forms, or a copy of the request for proposals, visit the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s website at: http:// www.agri.ohio.gov/Grants/Grants.aspx.

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DOWN ON THE FARM

“We are all done now so I can get the house clean,” Cutshall said. “Even after all these years though I still get excited about the goats and anticipate their births. The kids (babies) are so cute.”

The goats also keep her on her toes.

“They are devious things,” Cutshall said. “They learn to open gates so you have to make sure they can’t reach any of the latches.”

Right now she has seven does (females), one buck (male) and 20 kids (babies).

“I started with purebred Nubian, but then I bred them with Boer, which is a meat goat,” Cutshall said.

She sells her goats for meat, but she also likes that they keep the pastures clean.

“They love weeds,” Cutshall said.

“They will walk right through clover to get to them.”

She has had other animals in the past, but the goats are one species that she has always kept with.

“I’ve been single for a long time and goats are something I can handle by myself,” Cutshall said. “I can’t handle cattle. They make big, sloppy messes and goats just make little ones.”

JOSIE@COSHOCTONCOUNTYBEACON.COM

Down on the Farm

Contributed to the Beacon

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DOWN ON THE FARM

APRIL 8, 2015

Down on the Farm

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The farm family

Contributed by Greg Booher, agricultural journalist

Much has been said and written especially in agricultural circles, about the family farm. We do have much to be concerned about with increased restrictions, requirements and the price squeeze which affect the family-sized farm with its limited resources. Please do not stop reading at this point – read on.

The high cost of overhead, machinery, labor cost, property tax etc. has forced many farm families who love farm life, to supplement their income with part time or full time jobs or leave the farm all together. And yet, with only 4-5 percent of our population engaged in agricultural production, we are feeding ourselves and contributing greatly to underdeveloped nations’ food supply.

A few years ago Paul C. Johnson, editor of “The Prairie Farmer,” in an address before the annual conference of the Michigan State Cooperative Extension Service, said among other things, “I believe that we have a right to decide whether the family farm can be retained as a basic unit in agricultural and a sustainable force in rural life and leadership. But first we must get rid of the notion that the unit can be the same size it was 50 years ago. The family farm must be large enough to give full employment to the family with a full complement of modern machinery and equipment. In fact, it seems logical to me that the ideal farm should employ two families in order to give greater freedom of action and to facilitate the transfer of the business from one generation to the next. Yet, this two–family farm should be a busy and productive unit with enough pressure toward

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efficiency so that the family farm is a constructive unit in our society. It is with great reluctance that I look ahead to the possibility of agriculture being organized on industrial lines.”

Of course, the two-family farm is not new to many families. We have seen several examples of father-son farming operations with one or more farms working together as a single unit. This is an excellent way for a young farmer to grow into the business and build up equity in land, livestock and machinery.

This, of course, takes a lot of give and take on the part of the two-families as is the case with any partnership. As the father gets older, the son gradually takes on more responsibility, initiative and leadership, and in turn his son grows up ready to become a partner when his father and grandfather takes on full retirement. The fly in the ointment here is when the older man is not willing to relinquish responsibility and refuses to hand over the reins to his son.

Our Amish brethren have practiced this method for many years. In this way, a young man who loves the land and wants to farm, can get a start where otherwise he might never be able to have or own a farm. After all, there is a lot of culture in agriculture!

I can’t take credit for what you just read as I did not pen the insightful narrative. What you just read, was written by “The Country Parson, Selected Readings from The Country Parson,” page 196. “The Country Parson” was the pen name used by Rev. Russell Hoy who was a Methodist pastor from the eastern Ohio community of Canal Lewisville. Rev. Hoy was my wife’s pastor, Deborah Dunlap-Booher, when she was a school girl and Rev. Hoy also married us several decades ago. What I find so astonishing is that Rev. Hoy wrote this article for “The Ohio Farmer” in 1972. Pastor Hoy wrote for the “Ohio Farmer” from 1945 through 1991.

The reference to Paul Johnson’s speech is so very true. Mr. Johnson was the editor of the “Prairie Farmers” from 1947 into the early 60s. It has been my privilege to share the amazing insight of these two proponents of rural life who were at the dawning of the 19th century.

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Farmers’ market season is almost here

By Josie Sellers

Down on the Farm

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COSHOCTON - Fresh crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, sweet strawberries and other fresh produce will soon be coming your way thanks to our three local farmers markets.

“From savoring produce at the peak of freshness to meeting the people who grow your food, the fruits and vegetables you buy at the farmers market are the freshest and tastiest available,” said Gary Kilpatrick, who is in charge of Coshocton and Warsaw’s markets.

“Fruits are allowed to ripen fully in the field and are brought directly

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APRIL 8, 2015

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Rabbits are a lifelong hobby for Thompson

By Josie Sellers

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Down on the Farm

friends close by,” Thompson said.

She’s also had some special rabbits over the years.

“I had a Mini Rex that turned out a color I didn’t want in my herd, but it was beautiful so I kept it,” Thompson said.

That particular rabbit won her several awards, but when it passed away she stopped with that color.

Thompson typically keeps her rabbits until they are at least 2-years-old, but she will keep does a little longer if they are still producing at 4-6-years-old.

“I don’t want to sell them when they are too old,” Thompson said. “I want to give someone else the chance to use their genetics and spread the wealth.”

She also has personally learned a lot from raising rabbits.

“I got my work ethic T I R E and organizational and public speaking skills from it,” Thomp110 WEST PINE ST. son said. “Rabbits have been (740) 622-7993 good for me. I have lots of good FAX: (740) 622-7987 memories from showing them.”

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COSHOCTON – Shelly Thompson got her first rabbit at 3-yearsold and enjoyed taking care of it so much that she is still raising, showing and breeding rabbits as an adult.

Thompson began her herd with Dutch Rabbits and has expanded to work with three other breeds.

“I started with Lilac Rabbits around 2006,” she said. “They are a heritage rare breed. Not many people have them so there is a small gene pool. I wanted to work with a breed that needed help. I do my best to get people started on them.”

Thompson also has Mini Rex and Mini Satin rabbits.

“The Mini Rex have plush coats and come in many colors,” she said. “They pay my feed bill because they are a very, very popular breed.”

Thompson breeds her rabbits all year long. She has 56 cages and has 25 to 50 rabbits at any given time.

“I’m fortunate that I live close enough to town that I can go home at lunch to open and close barn doors and check on bunnies,” she said.

If you have good moms, though, you don’t have to worry about the babies too much.

“I have one that makes nice babies, but is not a good mommy,” Thompson said. “I have to watch her and make sure she has babies when I can foster them on someone else. She’s a diva and just wants to be a show doe (female). They all have personalities and react to people differently.”

She breeds her rabbits all year round and after all these years still gets excited to see the babies.

“We work with genetics and know what we need to do to improve the breeds,” Thompson said. “I sell a lot as pets and to 4-H kids so I want breeds that are easy to care of, but also healthy and hearty.”

She also sells her rabbits to others who breed and show them and will even sell them for meat.

“I’d rather a rabbit be on someone’s plate than in their backyard not being taken care of,” Thompson said.

When it comes to showing rabbits, the best part of the hobby is all the people she’s met at shows.

“I can be anywhere in the United States or Canada and have

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Doing business with your local farmer

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REYNOLDSBURG - When you have forward-thinking producers along with good soil and climate, a good location and infrastructure, sound regulations, along with research and education, good things are bound to happen. This balance has led to Ohio’s wildly successful food and agriculture industry, which directly and indirectly touches everyone.

Ohio is made up of many different sized farms and there is room for all of them here in our state. From one operator to several family members on up to large ag businesses they have built an industry that provides billions in economic activity and thousands of jobs, not to mention quality food and agricultural products. For all of the benefits this industry has provided us, this success starts with small farmers and businesses right down the road from you in your local communities.

There is unprecedented demand from consumers for locally grown produce and meat and I am ecstatic to see that demand driving so many new faces into the industry. Bush Valley Farm in Adamsville is one such operation.

Bush Valley Farm is one visit out of many I made during my annual Ohio Agriculture Week trek across the state. Bush Valley Farm recently was inducted into the Ohio Proud and Homegrown

by Heroes programs, which help strengthen agriculture’s presence in the state by identifying fresh, Ohio-grown products grown by those

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who have or are still serving in the military.

This farm is owned by a husband and wife team, who provide quality, farm-raised meat that can be custom ordered to any specification, and is part of a growing movement for local communities to start business relationships with their local farmers.

Bush Valley Farm is just one operation that is representative of nearly any of Ohio’s agricultural farms. Ohio agriculture is made up of hundreds and thousands of families just like this, working hard, providing good agricultural products. You can buy produce, fruit, eggs, meat, maple syrup, Christmas trees or any number of agricultural products at local farms.

Ohio has 75,000 farms in the state and nearly 14 million acres of farmland. And we need every one of them to help meet domestic and global food demands. Did you know that today, the average person in the United States eats 22 pounds of tomatoes each year, mostly in the form of ketchup and tomato sauce? To help meet that demand, U.S. farmers produce 12 million tons of tomatoes, with 153,000 tons coming from Ohio producers. Did you also know that the U.S. also produces 66 billion eggs a year? Well, most people have no idea that 7.9 billion of those come from Ohio farms!

And as the population grows, so will those numbers. Americans eat about 30 pounds of lettuce every year. That’s about five times more than what we ate in the early 1900s. That’s okay because agriculture is keeping up. Today’s farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.), compared with 1950.

This year, I encourage all of you to seek out and start doing business with your local area farmers. You’re bound to get a highquality product and it will support a local family, your community and our state. Ohio’s strong food and agriculture industry starts with the farmers making their living right down the road from you.

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APRIL 8, 2015

Down on the Farm

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Numerous area youth benefit from 4-H

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Down on the Farm

CAMP Youth at Cloverbud Camp enjoyed playing with their “Gak” for the very first time. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE BEACON

SHOOTING Karl Rinehart, certified 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor, is pictured teaching air rifle during Coshocton County 4-H Camp. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE BEACON

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DOWN ON THE FARM

Local decisions on local mortgages.

4-H CLASS 4–H LEGO Robotics class was a hit with area youth.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE BEACON Contributed to the Beacon

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APRIL 8, 2015

COSHOCTON - In 2014 Coshocton County 4-H had 190 adult volunteers, 698 4-H members, 403 youth involved in school enrichment programs, 145 overnight campers, and 63 day campers. To join, please call the OSU Extension Office at 740-622-2265 or contact a current 4-H member or volunteer. To participate fully members need to join before the end of April.

4-H supports young people from elementary school through high school with programs designed to shape future leaders and innovators. Fueled by research-driven programming, 4-H’ers engage in hands-on learning activities in the areas of science, citizenship and healthy living. The 4-H vision is a world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change.

4-H members can participate in multiple different ways, whether it’s taking one of the hundreds of different projects, going to camp, or participating in a school enrichment program.

Farmers’ resource guide

Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District Address: 724 S. Seventh St., Room 120, Coshocton, OH 43812 COMMUNITY EVENT The Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday District staff is always out and about at different community events and Phone number: 740-622-8087, ext. 4 ready to share information about how their office can help local farmers E-mail: debbigelow@coshoctoncounty.net and landowners. BEACON FILE PHOTO Website: http://www.coshoctonswcd.org What helpful resources do you offer farmers: We assist landownCOSHOCTON – If you have questions about farming or gardening ers in identifying resource concerns in regards to cropland, forestry, these local agencies might be able to help you. and pasture land. We provide soils information for different uses, information about manure application rates and development of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) to properly handle manure and fertilizer application, and assist in designing, laying out, and supervising construction of conservation practices such as grass waterways, spring developments, diversions, and contour strips.

SEE ‘GUIDE’ ON PAGE 11

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APRIL 8, 2015

DOWN ON THE FARM THE BEACON

Beacon Staff

Coshocton County Farm Bureau Address: 1625A Sharon Ave., Zanesville, OH 43701 Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Phone number: 800-964-8184 E-mail: coshocton@ofbf.org Website: http://ofbf.org/counties/coshocton/ or look them up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CoshoctonCountyFarmBureau Dues: $65 per year for a family membership What helpful resources do you offer farmers: Farm Bureau offers many benefits to our members such as legislative representation on related issues, a landowner toolkit which answers questions about hot topics such as CAUV, trespassing, ATV’s, line fence, oil & gas and several more, as well as the staff resources to assist with any other questions, and many member saving benefits.

Down on the Farm

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Saluting the efforts of our area farmers.

P.O. BOX 606 • COSHOCTON 740-622-0941 • www.coshoctongrain.com

4-H fundraisers going 11-B on through April 16

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

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OSU Extension Coshocton County Office Address: 724 S. Seventh St., Room 110, Coshocton, OH 43812 Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Phone number: 740-622-2265 Website: http://coshocton.osu.edu/ What helpful resources do you offer farmers: Soil testing, leasing information, financial analysis, record keeping education, value-added agriculture opportunities, pesticide application education, fertilizer application education, pest identification, farm transition information, family business communication, women in agriculture education, and connection to experts at The Ohio States University on all agricultural topics

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Guide

COSHOCTON - Coshocton County 4-H currently has two great fundraisers going on in order to raise money to send youth to Coshocton County 4-H Camp at 4-H Camp Ohio.

You can support 4-H by making purchases through SchwansCares online or by phone and using campaign ID 17448 or by searching Coshocton County 4-H. You can purchase under our general 4-H campaign or search through the 4-H’ers that have signed up to sell the frozen food. We earn the most if products are ordered by Thursday, April 16.

Coshocton County 4-H has also teamed up with Baker’s IGA with the label savers program to help support camp scholarships.

Anyone can bring IGA UPC barcodes into our office or Baker’s IGA. We can get up to $50 for each bundle of 500 UPC labels that we send in.

If you have questions, contact the OSU Extension Office at 740-622-2265.

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COSHOCTON - Devin Barnett will serve as president of the Millfork Valley 4-H Club for the coming year. He was elected at the March 31, meeting held at Roscoe United Methodist Church.

Other officers elected are: Vice-President Colt Eaton, Secretaries Lindsay Ashcraft and Bella Miller, Treasurer Cole Tatro, News Reporter Marcus Wells, Recreation Officers Jeremy Tidwell and Colt Bantum, Health Officers Aiden Berger and William Fortune, Safety Officers Kamdyn Smith and McKenna Collins, Environment Officers Jayden Hagans and Kadon Holsky, Energy Officer Ethan Fry and Riley Holsky, and Historian Devon Fortune.

Thirteen members and five advisors attended the meeting.

There were seven Cloverbuds there for the “I am special” program.

Parents prepared refreshment.

The next meeting of the Millfork Valley 4-H Club will be held on Tuesday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Roscoe United Methodist Church. Members are reminded to return signed 4-H constitution and club rules.

Down on the Farm

Millfork Valley 4-H Club meets

brothers receive Outstanding Conservation Farmer award

By Beth Scott

COSHOCTON – Brothers Seth and Homer Porteus have been farming for 46 seasons and recently began planting rye as a cover crop after harvesting their corn. This received the attention of the Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District and the two were awarded

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APRIL 8, 2015

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the 2014 Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year Award.

“We should have been doing this years ago, but we started doing it and it seems to be working, so we’re going to keep doing it,” said Seth.

Cover crops improve soil health, improve yield potential over time, improve weed control of winter annuals, reduce erosion, increase earthworm populations, improve soil microbiology, build soil organic matter, produce and scavenge nutrients, help with manure management, and provide excellent grazing opportunities.

Cover crop roots also provide added benefits to the soil.

“Cover crops have been a huge topic in recent years,” said Deb Bigelow, District Administrator. “The Porteus brothers are really the front runners in the community on cover crops. They’re doing it on their own and this is a huge value to us. It’s something that Homer and Seth really believe in.”

The Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year Award began in 1962 with Kenneth Johnson Jr. receiving the first award. Each district would nominate a local farmer for the award who would be recognized at their annual meeting. They would then have a chance to be chosen for the national award, sponsored by Goodyear Tire.

Currently, the nominees are chosen by a five-member board of land owners in Coshocton County. Four to five candidates are considered each year, and those who are not chosen can be nominated again the next year.

“The staff nominates people who have installed conservation practices and the hours we’ve spent on their project,” said Bigelow.

“We listen to the people in the community too. We take the community suggestions into consideration if they have potential candidates.”

Seth and Homer recently helped with the Cover Crop Walk on March 19 and have been working with the Soil and Water Conservation District since 1968. As award-winners, they received a SEE ‘AWARD’ ON PAGE 13

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“We’re thankful that they looked at what we were doing and chose us for the award,” said Seth. “There are other people in the county doing what we’re doing too.”

“Seth and Homer aren’t looking for recognition,” said Bigelow.

“It’s nice to be able to do something for them and have them recognized.”

BETH@COSHOCTONCOUNTYBEACON.COM

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Award plaque to display at their farm.

catch you next time. You aren’t obligated to come every Saturday either and there is no contract. We are always welcoming new vendors as long as what they are bringing is homemade or homegrown.

Come give being a vendor a try and don’t be afraid you don’t have enough, aren’t big enough or haven’t done this before. Just bring a table, chair and make sure your product is clearly marked. It won’t cost you anymore than your time and effort.”

Brown noted that baked goods also need to have their ingredients listed from largest to smallest, along with weight and the baker’s name and address.

“A successful stand at a farmers market can be a really excellent way to generate income and introduce people to new products,” Kilpatrick said.

They also are a great place to meet new people.

“We have a lot of loyal customers that look forward to it every Saturday,” Julia said. “I’ve met so many people and made new friends that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet.

It’s a great community event for the little town of Fresno.”

Kilpatrick says farmers markets also are a great place for sharing gardening tips

“A lot of the vendors are older and more than willing to share their wisdom,” he said. “The food is grown by knowledgeable hands and that shows. The garden is weeded, tended and talked too.”

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Down on the Farm

Julia Brown, who helps run the Fresno Farmers Market, agrees with Kilpatrick.

“What you buy at the farmers market was either picked that morning or the night before,” she said. “By shopping at the markets you also are supporting hometown agriculture and local farmers.

The benefits far out way shopping at a store.”

Coshocton’s market will be from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31, in the 300 block of Main Street, Fresno’s is 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31, at Mark McCoy’s Auto and Warsaw’s is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, May 7 through Sept. 17 at River View Community Park.

“The food you buy at the farmers markets is seasonal,” Kilpatrick said. “It is fresh and delicious and reflects the truest flavors.

More and more families have allergies and they are trying to eliminate preservatives in their food so this is the way to go.”

Gardening is a hobby of his and he enjoys sharing the fruits of his labor with others.

“There is nothing like fresh vegetables from the garden and their nutritional value is much greater,” Kilpatrick said. “There are no preservatives, no fillers or by products, just naturally grown food from your own backyard. We’re allowing them to be in Mother Nature and produce the way they are supposed to.”

New vendors are always welcome at the markets. Vendor fees for the Coshocton market are $80 for the season or $10 per day and Warsaw’s is $5 per day ($25 total) or $25 for the entire season.

Fresno’s fee is a donation.

“We pass a pickle jar around at 11:30 a.m. or so and if you’ve sold and made something you just put in what you are able to contribute,” Brown said. “If you didn’t sell anything then we will just

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Down on the Farm

By Beth Scott

nese Koi and goldfish, northern pike, and rainbow trout. Not only do they offer fish, but pond accessories as well to help maintain a safe level of oxygen in the pond and to keep the pond from completely freezing over in the winter.

Fender’s Fish Farm boasts more than 200,000 pounds of fish in their Coshocton County pond. In addition, they own a couple hundred acres of land in Wayne, Holmes, and Coshocton County where pond managers maintain and harvest fish through the year.

“Farming fish is basically like farming on ground, but you’re just working under water,” said Steve Fender.

Twice a week, Fender’s loads up their truck with an assortment of fish and visit the 40 districts of Soil and Water Conservation Districts they serve throughout the year. Individuals can come in to their specific SWCD and purchase Fender’s fish for their personal ponds. The business serves anywhere from 30 to 150 people per visit. They also provide Lake Park with fish for their Fishing Derby, trout for the sportsmen’s club, and other fishing derbies in the area.

A large portion of their business is serving customers with individual ponds, answering their questions, and helping them decide what types of fish would be best for their ponds. Fender’s recommends 100 of each variety of fish per one acre with the exception of bluegills, flathead minnows, and white amurs. Fender’s recommends 200 bluegills, 1,000 flathead minnows, and eight to 10 white amurs per one acre.

The cold winter the county had played a big factor in harvesting fish and can cause the fish to die. The fish are taken out of a ‘kill pond’ and relocated. If the pond freezes over, the fish are trapped in what is equivalent to an air-tight room. This kills vegetation and prevents the fish from getting enough oxygen. An aerated pond helps prevent fish from being killed. Ponds are aerated through the use of windmills with a pipe attached which is placed underwater so that air can be pumped into the pond. This also helps in hot weather as well when oxygen is depleted.

Predatory birds also pose an issue. Blue heron, fish hawks, and eagles are natural predators of the fish and pose a constant threat. Fish can also succumb to bacterial disease.

“We’ve been doing this for over 50 years, so if a major problem happens, we can see it and tell what’s going on right away,” said Steve.

The fish are brought into the building for sale and inventory.

They are stored in large tubs until they are packed away in a box filled with five gallons of water and sent home with customers. The farm packs more than 5,000 boxes of fish each year. Steve has also written a book about how to create and maintain a pond entitled, ‘Pond Management’. Nine months out of the year, most of Steve’s time is spent answering questions from customers.

“If you have a question, just call me,” he said. “I’m always glad to help.”

Fender’s Fish Farm is located at 50527 TR 220, Baltic. They can be reached at 740-622-0681 or fendersfishhatchery.com.

BETH@COSHOCTONCOUNTYBEACON.COM

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COSHOCTON – In 2014, 694 youth completed projects in the Coshocton County 4-H program. These projects taught life skills, problem-solving, and wise decision-making. There are also 197 volunteers who serve as 4-H Club advisors, key leaders, and more.

4-H Camp is a fun way to develop life skills. This year, four camps were available for youth.

While connecting with nature at 4-H Camp Ohio, 146 youth learned good decision-making, social skills, and expression of self, outside the family nurturing environment. Twenty-one older youth served as Junior Camp Counselors, cultivating job readiness skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork. The 4-H Advisory Committee awarded $7,795 worth of 4-H Camp scholarship money.

Twenty-nine youth attended Giddy-Up-Go Horse Camp where they learned proper grooming, handling and safe riding, and got to play games and make renaissance-inspired crafts.

Twenty-nine youth attended Cloverbud Camp with a theme of “The Wacky World of Science”. Sessions educated youth about physical science, kitchen science, backyard ballistics, and mad science.

Summer Science Camp was a new weekly program this year that offered sessions to youth on electricity, rockets, chemistry, butterflies, weather, and eggs. Twenty-three youth participated in the programming.

More than 130 fourth-grade students at Coshocton Elementary School and more than 30 fifth-grade students at Union Elemen-

Down on the Farm

KIDS COOK OSU Extension and Local Bounty Coshocton partnered to offer a series of Local Foods Cooking Classes for Kids. Sixteen children ages 3 to 10 years old learned to make simple meals and treats using locally-produced vegetables, herbs, cheeses, honey, and baked goods.

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tary enhanced their science learning through the 4-H school enrichment program, Rockets Away! Youth learned about the laws of motion while building and launching bottle rockets.

Twenty-nine local farmers learned information to make better management decisions in their agricultural operations at Agronomy School. Producers were equipped with research-based, best management practices related to weed management and nutrient management. Forty-five percent of the participants indicated that they intended to adjust or change an agronomic management plan for this coming growing season because of what they learned during the day. Participants estimated that the new information would save them an average of $600 during the next growing season.

During the Pasture for Profit Grazing School, 23 livestock producers learned about the principles of management-intensive grazing. Ninety-three percent of the participants agreed that they would increase their forage yield per acre and 87 percent indicated that they expect to increase the net profit of their operation as a direct result of this program.

Worm composting, or vermiculture, is catching on with gardeners and fishermen locally. Close to 100 people have learned about worm composting for the worm’s ability to break down food scraps quickly and provide “black gold” compost, which is nutrientrich for seed-starting, houseplants, or garden plants. They are also excellent fish bait. The Coshocton Herb Society, Clary Gardens, the Coshocton Public Library and First Farm Friday events have been the venue to educating the community on vermiculture.

What makes your garden grow? Master Gardener volunteers, trained by OSU Extension. The volunteers help Extension share research-based information with gardeners through workshops, community gardens, and one-on-one consultations. In Coshocton County, 17 active Master Gardener volunteers have given more than 750 volunteer hours to educate and beautify the community. These total volunteer hours equate to nearly $17,000. Data was also collected for the Phenology Garden Network that is used statewide and nationally.

OSU Extension helps adults with limited resources make

Update

healthy, safe, and budget-friendly food choices through the USDAfunded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).

In 2014, a total of 76 families were impacted by EFNEP in Coshocton County. Ninety-five percent of graduates significantly increased knowledge and improved behaviors in diet quality, and as a result, 46 percent of graduates ran out of food less often each month. Also, more than half of graduates increased their physical levels and consumption of fruit and vegetables upon completing EFNEP.

Through a collaborative effort with OSU Extension Holmes County, a series of five home food preservation workshops were offered. More than 30 participants learned safe methods of canning and freezing fruits, vegetables, and meats. Food safety concerns were explained, and six people had their pressure canners tested.

Ninety percent of participants plan to make changes to their home food preservation processes as a result of the classes.

OSU Extension and Local Bounty Coshocton partnered to offer a series of Local Foods Cooking Classes for Kids. Sixteen children ages 3 to 10 years old learned to make simple meals and treats using locally-produced vegetables, herbs, cheeses, honey, and baked goods. Many parents agreed a positive outcome of the class was that children were more willing to try different foods as a result of participating. This program was supported through a grant from the Columbus Foundation.

Coshocton County ranks 13th in Ohio for the total number of female farm operators. The mission of Annie’s Project is to

empower farm women to become better business partners through networking and managing and organizing critical information. Sixteen area women completed a six-week program focused on financial risk management and recordkeeping. This “Moving Beyond the Basics” course was one of three pilot programs offered in Ohio and Iowa.

A majority of farm land will change ownership in the next 20 years. As the average age of farmers increase, the topic of farm transition is becoming more critical for many farm families. Two Farm Transition, Estate and Retirement Seminars have provided 60 members of 37 families with tools and resources to plan for the transition of their family farms and farm businesses. The program included attorneys, taxation specialists, and financial advisors. Seventy-eight percent of participants planned to implement a family business meeting within the next six months.

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