Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District holds 79th annual banquet

The Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District held its 79th annual Banquet at Lake Park Pavilion Thursday evening, Oct. 21. More than one hundred area residents and special guests were in attendance. A buffet dinner was served by Theo’s Restaurant of Cambridge preceding the meeting.

The Ohio Soil & Water Conservation Commission held an election for one supervisor to be elected to the Coshocton SWCD Board of Supervisors. Beth Mullen and Jordan Olinger were candidates with Beth Mullen winning re-election for a three year term starting Jan. 1, 2022.

Ken Smailes was the evening’s guest speaker. He shared information about the history of Coshocton County agriculture with interesting pictures and facts. Following a career that spanned three decades in print and broadcast journalism, Smailes moved into full time ministry in July. He held the news director position at WTNS for 25 years, becoming the longest serving person in that position. He is the minister at Killbuck, Blissfield, and Nashville United Methodist churches.

Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District announced the 2021 Outstanding Conservation Farmer Of the Year Award which went to Jim and Wendy Schumaker. Schumaker Farms consists of 237 acres and is located in Lafayette Township near West Lafayette. The Schumaker’s grow sweet corn, pumpkins, cover crops, and raise beef cattle. Jim has been a cooperator with the SWCD since 1978. Conservation practices installed on the Schumaker farm include a spring development with three watering tanks, 1,769 ft. of pipeline, 500 ft. of access road, a heavy use pad, and 14.2 acres of brush management. Jim can remember as a boy following long-time SWCD Technician Vernon Dreher around installing contour strips. Schumaker Farms has been awarded the Century and Bicentennial Farm recognition from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Jim built an outdoor event shelter in 1990 and it is used today for weddings, reunions, and business meetings. Wendy also operates a successful catering business providing food for many soil and water events. Schumaker’s also hosted a SWCD Pasture Walk in 2020 and the Fall Foliage and Farm Tour in 2021.

Coshocton SWCD sponsored the Coshocton County Junior Fair Hay Show with Cassie Glazer from TMK Bakersville serving as the official judge. The 2021 Hay Show winners recognized were: Ryan Greten, son of Mike and Karrie Greten, This-N-That 4-H Club won the Heavy Mixed, Alfalfa, Clover, and Grass Hay classes. Brianna Karr, daughter of Jeff and Kelly Karr, River View FFA won the Light Mixed Hay class. Winners received a rosette and $25 cash award for each class. Ryan and Camille McPeek were recognized as the winner of the Coshocton SWCD’s Big Tree Contest. The winning “Big Tree” was a Sycamore tree which measured 197” in circumference with a vertical height of 118’ and an average crown spread of 91.5’.

Tom Heading from Coshocton is Blooming Committee presented the ninth annual City Big Tree Contest award for trees entered in the City of Coshocton. Joanne Workman was recognized for her Oak tree that measured 165 inches circumference with a vertical height of 90’ and average crown spread of 84’.

The winner of the Mystery Photo Contest, which was part of the SWCD’s display at the Coshocton County Fair was Kevin Kuhlman. Kuhlman’s name was among three correct entries received. The mystery photo was of the Bruce Stevens farm in Washington Township.

The Friend of Conservation was presented to Wendell Waters. He is a former agricultural education teacher and a founding member of the Ohio Corn Growers. He was instrumental in creating the PGI Group in 1994; a coalition of hog farmers that continuously work to improve the industry. Waters was awarded the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Ohio Agriculture Hall of Fame in the class of 2020. Waters served as a SWCD board member from 1976-1984 and continues to support the program today hosting tours and events to promote conservation education.

The meeting adjourned after door prizes were drawn.