Adams to start new position at OSU Extension in July

COSHOCTON – Emily Adams and Jenny Strickler from OSU Extension Coshocton County met with Coshocton County Commissioners on Wednesday, March 28 to discuss updates to the OSU Extension staffing and the results of a recent survey that was mailed out to all Coshocton County citizens last September and distributed at various events, including the Coshocton County Fair and the fall foliage tour, through the month of October.

Extension services are asked every five years to complete a program review and needs assessment summary where residents were asked to respond to needed programs in extension services, their thoughts on current OSU Extension programs, how they value or enjoy these programs, and also demographic data.

“The survey looked at family and consumer science-related areas and looked at our budget and the needs in the community,” said Adams. “We also looked at current programing and feedback from the community on what programs they participate in and what they valued about extension.”

Adams said their goal was to get 500 people to respond and their final number was 469. She said that 67 percent of people who responded lived outside of the city limits of Coshocton and demographic data showed that people from 21 zip codes responded.

After reviewing results, it was decided to create a new position in the office for a family and consumer science educator. Out of all the candidates interviewed, Adams was given the position, which she will begin on July 9.

“I feel very fortunate to get to do this,” she said. “There were a lot of well-qualified candidates who applied for this. My degree is in food science, so I feel there’s more I can offer to the community with this new position.”

Adams’ current position as the agriculture and natural resources educator is now open and will be changed to a part-time position.

“Looking at the needs of the community, we feel this staffing will meet the educational needs of the community better,” said Adams.

Adams also talked about some of the programs offered last year as part of OSU Extension. The farm transitioning program in February discussed the future of farming and had 33 people present representing 21 farms. Some people attended from surrounding counties.

They also offered a traditional pesticide and fertilizing training with 50 people in attendance. Adams announced that there are 200 private pesticide applicators in the county and close to 200 fertilizer applicators in the county. There were about 20 programs offered through OSU Extension in 2017.

Read more about farming in our community in Down on the Farm!

Category: Government