Menu

By Lynn Snyder

The construction of the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center is moving ahead. Even with the wet fall and cold winter, the project still should be completed at the end of this year. So far, all of the steel is erected, and some areas are now being enclosed.

The 4-H Center will allow youth, adult volunteers, community organizations and other Ohio State University partners to participate in hands-on programs, enjoy educational conference and classroom facilities and access premier technology linking the Ohio 4-H Center to Ohio’s 88 counties, the nation and the world. There are currently more than 286,000 youth and more than 30,000 volunteers involved in Ohio 4-H programs.

The facility, located on Lane Avenue, west of the Jerome Schottenstein Center and east of State Route 315 in Columbus, is expected to be operational in early 2008.

According to Bill McCleery, campaign director for the center, it is gaining attention for being Ohio State’s first "green" building on campus – it is being constructed keeping energy efficiency and the environment in mind. Some of the center’s green features include geothermal heating and cooling, the use of sunflower board made from crushed sunflower hulls, recycled carpet material, native species plant materials, nontoxic soy-based cleaning products and highly reflective roof material that doesn’t absorb heat. The center also will have a reduced-size parking lot. "The idea with all these things is to conserve energy. In other words, we will have a 65-space lot, and for large meetings, we will share parking with the Schottenstein Center," McCleery said. Also, the rooms will incorporate the use of day lighting and task lighting. McCleery explained that day lighting is a means to use more natural lighting instead of fluorescent bulbs, and task lighting directs light to necessary areas, such as desktops, rather than illuminating an entire room.

Another feature that is a first on campus is the use of monitoring systems to measure consumption of electric and water. All other university buildings are part of a campus-wide system for their utilities use and cost. With this state-of-the-art building and geothermal heating and cooling, McCleery said the center doesn’t fit the mold. The new monitoring systems will ensure the center doesn’t pay more for its energy costs than it should.

Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau have provided $6 million of the $15.5 million needed for construction and endowment. "County Farm Bureaus have done a terrific job partnering with us to make this happen," said Bob Vance, OFBF senior vice president corporate. "Employees and the board have stepped up, too. It’s really been a team effort," Vance said. So far, OFBF members have contributed $1.5 million of the $6 million given by both organizations.

Some members have contributed $1,000 or more, making them members of the Ohio Farm Bureau Leadership Circle – Friends of 4-H. McCleery said this group has raised nearly $130,000 above and beyond the $1.5 million from Farm Bureau as a whole. The Leadership Circle will be recognized in a special way in the 4-H Center. To participate, contact Rachel Rittinger at OFBF, 614-246-8225.

McCleery also applauded the giving from 4-H members, clubs and the extension family across the state who have donated more than $1 million. "This is our grassroots organization," he said. "The whole idea is this isn’t an Ohio State 4-H building; the center belongs to the 4-H organization in the state."

Despite all of the good news, the center still needs $1 million to reach its funding goal. The money is needed to complete the construction and for the endowment needed to operate and maintain the center. McCleery said efforts are ongoing to write proposals and submit requests to appropriate foundations, corporations and individuals, especially those with an interest in "green" buildings. In addition, the center is seeking gifts-in-kind for various items. Deferred gifts, such as gift annuities and bequests, may be credited to the center maintenance endowment. Contact the campaign office for a brochure and further details, 614-247-6904.

Caption: The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center construction should be completed by the end of the year and the building should be operational in early 2008. This photo was taken from the east side of the building. OFBF members have contributed $1.5 million toward the center’s costs.