Surrounded by a herd of black Angus cattle in the feedlot of the family farm, Erin Stickel is all business as she details the intricacies of raising beef for an Ohio high school class studying animal and plant science. And…
All Posts by Kelli Milligan Stammen
Rural nurses go to their patients, not vice versa
Mary Fleming learned long ago to be prepared for just about anything as a rural nurse. But like others who provide medical care for farmers in rural America, she takes the challenges in stride. Can’t drive her car down a…
Horse camp brings community together
For five years, Rick McCleese searched across the country for the perfect site to fulfill his dream of running his own equestrian campground. Since 2008, McCleese has operated Elkins Creek Horse Camp in Lawrence County, offering access to miles of…
State fairgoers enjoy homegrown flavors
Giving Ohio State fairgoers a taste of Ohio’s beef, poultry, lamb, pork, milk, wine and beer can be a daunting task. Just ask Roger High, who, once a year, coordinates the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association’s booth in the aptly named…
Contest winners’ products reaching broader audience
Sarah Steinbrunner isn’t a mom, but the 21-year-old Ohio State University senior is well aware that, for many children, the traditional lunch staple of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn’t an option. Too many kids these days have peanut…
Devoting half a century to community
Anne Scheiderer’s first 4-H project in the 1950s still brings a smile to her face. “It was a summer lunch, and I made a salad, sandwiches and a rhubarb and gooseberry punch because we had a rhubarb patch and had…
State fair ringmaster ready for another season
The man at the helm of the Ohio State Fair doesn’t have a fancy title or a lavish office or a stunning view from a picture window. Virgil Strickler would cringe at the very idea of such extravagance. His “general…
2017 CIFT Ohio Signature Food Contest Winners
Being nervous was the farthest thing from Te’Lario Watkins II’s mind when he faced a panel of judges at last year’s Ohio Signature Food Contest, co-sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau. Te’Lario Watkins “I am not afraid of being in front…
Central State cultivates its land-grant status
You don’t have to look too far on Central State University’s campus to see big changes since the southwestern Ohio school became the second land-grant university in the state. The proof glints in the sunshine pouring through the newly renovated…
Who to trust for the truth about food
Go ahead, eat those fried eggs. And add a slice of buttered toast and a side of bacon. Enjoy it, because despite what you’ve heard for nearly 30 years, that fat and cholesterol won’t make you sick. That was the…