Agriculture industry celebrated at annual luncheon
COSHOCTON – All those who contribute to the agriculture industry in our community were celebrated at the Fifth annual Ag Day Celebration held March 14, at The Lock Landing in Roscoe Village.
“Today is a day of celebration,” said David Marrison, extension educator, agriculture and natural resources, at the Coshocton County OSU Extension office. “It’s a day that we as an industry sit back and say thank you to each other. We would not know what to do without the men and women who produce our crops and raise livestock.”
After enjoying a lunch catered by Schumaker Farms, attendees were briefly entertained by Bob Buxton and Nate McNeal. The original person scheduled to recite the FFA Creed was unable to make the luncheon so Marrison asked the former agriculture education teachers to step in. They asked everyone in attendance who had been in FFA to stand and join them. Halfway through the speech McNeal stopped and asked why no one’s lips were moving. Buxton responded with, “We must not have taught them very well.” Everyone had a good laugh before moving on with the program.
Next on the agenda was the presentation of a proclamation celebrating National Ag Day in Coshocton County. Commissioner Curtis Lee shared that agriculture brings $81 million annually into the local economy and is our county’s number one industry.
“We recognize, acknowledge and celebrate all those who contribute to the industry,” he said.
This year’s special guest speaker was Rhoda Crown, CEO of the Coshocton Grain Company. She has been with the company for 35 years and said she is grateful for the opportunity to work with local farmers. She described them as resilient people, who are good stewards of the land and have survived many changes in technology.
Many of those farmers cared about the company so much that they came to its assistance in 1993 and purchased the assets of the Coshocton Grain Co.
“At that time I was the office manager and CFO,” Crown said. “We were all very appreciative of the local investors purchasing the elevator so we did not just become a storage facility for a large grain firm.”
The company’s customers were once again there for them after an explosion occurred at its facility in August 2014.
“We received kind words, cards, letters and e-mails from our producers,” Crown said. “We were so blessed and I’ve said many times that it was by the grace of God that all the boys walked away. We still talk about that event because we never want to experience it again.”
She also shared exciting news about the company with those in attendance.
“We are becoming a manufacturing facility and will offer a consistent viable market for soybeans,” Crown said.
Construction is currently underway for what will be known as Coshocton Soy Processing ExPress Meal & Oil. She added that they are on track to start producing in late July.
Marrison wrapped up the luncheon by once again thanking everyone.
“Thank you for what you do not only for the county, but for Ohio and the greater good,” he said. “We wish you a safe and healthy planting season.”
The luncheon was sponsored by OSU Extension, Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation, Farm Credit Mid-America, and the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce.
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