Richland SWCD, Farm Bureau host celebration

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Richland County Farm Bureau and Richland Soil and Water Conservation District are hosting a joint annual celebration on Sept. 7. The celebration will start at 6 p.m. at the Kehoe Center, 175 Mansfield Ave.

The event is open to the public and includes dinner, guest speaker the Rev. Paul Lintern, “Richland County is Rich Land,” awards and organization updates. The cost is $20 per person and reservations are requested by Aug. 24. Reservations may be made at https://richlandswcd.net.

Farm bureau members will vote on proposed policies, local trustees, and Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting delegates. This event will also commemorate Richland SWCD’s 75th year and being named Ohio’s District of the Year. The Cooperator of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will be recognized.

Partical Board in any J-Mark cabinet lines.

Eligible voters may cast their vote for two open Richland SWCD Board Supervisor positions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The candidates are Brian Alt, Rick Novak and Greg Timberlake. Absentee voting begins Aug. 9, and closes Sept. 7, at 12 p.m. at the Richland SWCD office. Visit richlandswcd.net/ for election information.

Stark SWCD seeks entries for soil contest

Since 1992

MASSILLON, Ohio — Stark Soil and Water Conservation District is holding its fifth annual contest to promote the importance of healthy soils. Core cylinders can be picked up at the office, 2650 Richville Drive SE, Suite 100.

Samples must be dropped off at the district office by 4:30 p.m. Aug. 18. One sample per landowner. District staff and soil scientists will conduct five different soil health assessment tests to determine the healthiest soil.

For questions or more information, you can contact Jay Jordan at 330-451-7643.

Pa. Agriculture Secretary visits Fayette County farm

BROWNSVILLE, Pa. — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich visited the market at Duda’s Farm in Brownsville, Fayette County, a participating partner in Pennsylvania’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Aug. 4.

The program provides Pennsylvania’s low-income seniors and families with vouchers to purchase fresh, local fruit and vegetables at farmers markets and farm stands statewide.

“For the many older Pennsylvanians living on fixed incomes, eating healthy shouldn’t be an unaffordable luxury. With the ending of the extra SNAP benefit payments along with the high costs of food and other necessities, these farmers market vouchers help support older Pennsylvanians by providing them with access to fresh foods, and highlight the important link between local farmers and the communities they feed with the fruits of their labor,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich.

“I encourage older adults to contact their local Area Agency on Aging to learn their eligibility for the vouchers or for any other assistance they may need to obtain them.”

From June through September each year, the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide low-income seniors and eligible participants in the WIC program with vouchers they can redeem through the end of November for Pennsylvania-grown fruit, veg- etables and fresh-cut herbs from approved farm markets and farm stands across the state.

Vouchers are distributed to participants through WIC clinics and for seniors through Area Agencies on Aging and county aging services partners.

The value of vouchers redeemed through the FMNP program and dollars directly supporting Pennsylvania farmers who participate in the program is more than $3.5 million annually, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Earlier this year, the Shapiro administration announced a performance-based increase in funding for the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, allowing the department to increase the total dollar amount from $24 to $50 for vouchers offered to eligible seniors and from $24 to $30 for eligible women and children.

Those seeking to redeem vouchers or support farms that accept them can search for participating farm markets on the free PA FMNP Market Locator App.

Pennsylvania farmers interested in participating in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program and being part of the solution to food insecurity in the community are encouraged to apply.

Currently, there are more than 1,000 approved farmers across the state.

Learn more about Pennsylvania’s work to increase food security in Pennsylvania at agriculture.pa.gov/ foodsecurity.