by CrownRandall | Jan 26, 2025 | Agriculture
DARKE COUNTY – A project involving local community members with lived experience of substance use disorder (SUD) is being featured as a success story of the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) in Ohio. In 2022, the Adult Probation Department of the Darke County Common Pleas Court assisted with the recruitment of participants for a Photovoice project led and funded by the HCS.
Photovoice is a research methodology where participants take photographs to highlight strengths or concerns in their community. They then meet as a group, along with researchers, to discuss, assess, analyze, and propose solutions to the issues, assigning captions to the photographs, and ultimately sharing the project with community leaders and decision-makers. The goal is to amplify the voices of and empower vulnerable and marginalized individuals, like those experiencing or in recovery from substance use.
Darke County’s HCS Photovoice Project featured themes related to stigma toward those with SUD and the successes and challenges faced during recovery. Their work has been shared with the Coalition for a Healthy Darke County, members of Governor DeWine’s RecoveryOhio Advisory Council, and other organizations.
One participant notes the project’s positive impact: “This was probably the first time I felt it was okay to share my feelings of being an outcast, a throw-away, and someone who didn’t deserve another chance.” They continue, “My hope through this research is to remove the barriers and stigma…and to encourage people to not be ashamed or afraid to get some help.”
From January 2020 through June 2022, Darke County took part in the HCS intervention as one of 19 participating counties in Ohio. The study allocated funding for county coalitions to lead a community-engaged, data-driven process to select and implement evidence-based practices. A health communications campaign was also implemented in each county to reduce stigma and increase demand for evidence-based practices. The study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term®) Initiative.
“People in recovery from or living with substance use disorder can provide us with guidance on how best to support them along their journey. As researchers, we need to listen to and work with them to identify solutions that lead them to recovery and help them maintain recovery long-term,” says Bridget Freisthler, Ph.D., who worked as one of the principal investigators of the study at The Ohio State University. “We are so appreciative of the community members who participated in this project and taught us about their experiences with addiction.”
More information about study results, as well as the full success story, can be accessed by visiting https://u.osu.edu/hcsohio
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by CrownRandall | Jan 24, 2025 | Agriculture
GREENVILLE – We’re thrilled to share some exciting news about a group of talented students from our community who recently showcased their skills at the County Ag Power & Diagnostics Competition, hosted by Koenigs Equipment!
Mason, Marissa, Bo, and Wyatt each competed in this highly competitive event, testing their knowledge and expertise in agricultural mechanics, diagnostics, and problem-solving. Their hard work, preparation, and passion for agriculture were on full display as they took on a variety of hands-on challenges, from troubleshooting machinery to diagnosing and repairing complex systems.
Highlights from the Competition:
Mason demonstrated exceptional problem-solving abilities, quickly diagnosing issues with agricultural equipment and applying his technical skills to repair and optimize performance.
Marissa impressed the judges with her precision and attention to detail, excelling in the diagnostic challenges and showing a true knack for understanding the mechanics of agricultural machines.
Bo brought his team spirit and determination, tackling each task with confidence and a keen understanding of agricultural technology, proving that teamwork and skill go hand in hand.
Wyatt showcased his advanced knowledge of agricultural systems, solving difficult issues with efficiency and demonstrating a true passion for working with cutting-edge machinery.
This competition was a fantastic opportunity for these students to apply their classroom learning to real-world scenarios, and we couldn’t be more proud of their achievements. They’ve gained valuable experience that will serve them well in their future agricultural careers.
A huge thank you to Koenigs Equipment for hosting such a fantastic event and for providing these students with the chance to shine. We look forward to more opportunities like this to support and nurture the talents of our young agricultural professionals.
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by CrownRandall | Jan 24, 2025 | Agriculture
GREENVILLE – Lucas Timmerman, Jeremiah Wagner, Caden Adkins and Levi Subler represented the Versailles FFA in the Darke County Agricultural and Industrial Diagnostics Career Development Event (CDE) Contest on Thursday, January 23rd at Koenig Equipment in Greenville, Ohio.
Lucas and Jeremiah placed 1st overall and Caden and Levi placed 6th overall. A total of 12 teams competed in the county contest.
As part of the contest, they took a written test and participated in 6 stations in which each piece of equipment they worked on had several malfunctions. Each team had 20 minutes to detect the problems and use diagnostics equipment to detect issues.
A special thanks to Koenig Equipment in Greenville for hosting the Darke County Contest. A special thank you to Noah Shimp and Noah Barga for helping coach the team and Koenig Equipment and North Star Hardware and Implement for hosting the Versailles FFA for a practice.
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by CrownRandall | Jan 24, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. The temperature has been quite cold overall, and we’ve had some snow in Darke County (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037). Continue to travel safely in these winter conditions.
The next Darke County Garden Roundtable and January 30th at 6:00 p.m., at the OSU Learning Center. The agenda is attached to this email.If you have any questions or topics you would like me to discuss ahead of time, please use the following survey link: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06zzY8Kwhnmd4Nw.
For those needing to renew their pesticide or fertilizer licenses, there will be two training sessions in Darke County to recertify. The first will be January 31st, with pesticide training beginning at 9:00 a.m. and fertilizer training beginning at 1:00 p.m. The second training date will be February 20th, beginning with fertilizer training at 4:30 p.m. and pesticide training at 6:00 p.m. Both sessions will take place in the meeting room at Darke DD, 5844 Jaysville-St Johns Rd, Greenville, OH 45331. Please note that on the notification letters sent out, I made an error. The letter states that the 31st is a Thursday, but it is a Friday. Please also note that these recertification trainings will be taking place in neighboring counties as well, if you are unable to attend in Darke County. If you need to register for one of these sessions, or if you have any questions, please reach out to me.
If you are in need of Beef Quality Assurance Certification, I will be providing a training session in partnership with the Darke County Cattlemen’s Association. The event will take place on February 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and will be in the Ansonia High School Cafeteria. The training is free for all DCCA members and youth, and is $10 otherwise. More details can be found in the attached flyer.
HPAI in Western Ohio and Indiana remains an important matter. The number of HPAI cases can be tracked using the ODA website at the following link: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/animal-health/hpai/01-poultry. Continue tracking the number of cases and follow biosecurity principles to best prevent the spread of HPAI and other diseases. Biosecurity practices are important for both commercial and backyard poultry raisers to do what we can to minimize the spread of HPAI. The recording for the recent HPAI webinar can be found at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/FSbbJWROqvLE845lyQYCVa-2bpIVbfpxi8xWn_g77oceOn2k5-7DGZtdoFUNCmrm.PNKcUUWIpdmvA9Ua. The passcode to join is V!8BYZ=H
I will be at Worch Library on February 13th at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Making Pesticide and Fertilizer Decisions. Here, we will discuss the considerations that go into applying pesticides and fertilizers to your fields and gardens. I hope to see you there!
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be February 21st at 7:30 a.m., held at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
Let me know if you are interested in a copy of the eFields Report, or if you have any interest in working with OSU Extension on future research projects.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
· Cattle in a Cold Snap
· Conducting a Feed Supply Checkup
· Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in Germany
· Long-Term Care Planning on the Farm
· Using Antibiotics on the Dairy Farm
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
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by CrownRandall | Jan 22, 2025 | Agriculture
NEW MADISON – On January 21, the Trails and Tails 4-H Club gathered for its annual Year-End Review Banquet to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of its members throughout 2024. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the year’s successes and honor the efforts of members in both livestock and non-livestock projects.
Awards and Recognitions
Several members were recognized for their outstanding contributions in various categories. The following individuals were honored with prestigious awards:
- Outstanding Willingness: Bailey Foster
- Outstanding Involvement: Caleb Elliott
- Outstanding Leader: Olivia Elliott
- Outstanding Leader: Ruby Delk
- Most Improved Equine Member: Bailey Foster
- Most Improved Rabbit Member: Caleb Elliott
- Most Improved Non-Livestock Member: DD Ramsey
- All-Star Sales: Ruby Delk
- Plugger Award: Sophia Hemmelgarn
The Advisors’ Award, a special recognition presented by the club’s advisors to a member they feel has shown true potential, was also given to three outstanding members. This award is not based on the number of awards won or the level of involvement but recognizes individuals who demonstrate promise and dedication.
- Madison Werner awarded Bailey Foster
- Marla Werner awarded Ruby Delk
- Jeny Elliott awarded Caleb Elliott
State Qualifiers and Special Achievements
Several club members qualified for state competitions and were recognized for their commitment to excellence in specific areas. These members showed extraordinary effort in their respective projects and earned a spot in state-level events:
- Kiera Spencer: Equine Communications & Communications
- Olivia Elliott: Communications
- Ruby Delk: Equine Communications & Communications
- Deirdre Ramsey: Junior Self-Determined
- Jocelin Smith: Self-Determined
- Madison Castle: Canning/Freezing & Senior Self-Determined
- State Competitors: Ruby Delk and Kiera Spencer (Equine Communications)
Honorable Mentions
The club also took time to recognize the efforts of other dedicated members who contributed to the success of the year, including:
- Summer Harter
- Tara Seger
- Parker Fourman
2025 Club Officers
The 4-H Club also introduced its new leadership team for the upcoming year. The following members were elected as officers for 2025:
- President: Ruby Delk
- Vice President: Bailey Foster
- Secretary: Olivia Elliott
- Treasurer: Sophia Hemmelgarn
- Reporter(s): Bailey Foster and Ruby Delk
- Historian: Caleb Elliott
Looking Forward
“We are so proud of this incredible club and the dedication shown by all of its members,” said a club representative. The Year-End Review Banquet served as a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that made it all possible.
Join the Trails and Tails 4-H Club
For those interested in joining or learning more about the Trails and Tails 4-H Club, we welcome individuals with all types of projects, both livestock and non-livestock. Meetings are held on the third Monday of every month. For more information or to become a member, please contact Madison Werner at 937-564-7250.
The Trails and Tails 4-H Club is excited to continue fostering a community of young leaders, committed to growth, learning, and service. Congratulations to all the award recipients and here’s to another successful year ahead!
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by CrownRandall | Jan 20, 2025 | Agriculture
DARKE COUNTY – The Darke County 4-H Beef Club held their January meeting on the 7th at 7 pm in the Brick Room at the Brethren’s Home in Greenville.
The meeting was called to order by President Paige Gehret. Anna Barga gave the secretary’s report and Lance Brinksneader gave the treasurer’s report and the reports were approved. Logan Brinksneader gave a health and safety report.
The club played musical chairs as a recreational activity. The club voted to pay for one project book per member. Talked about trash bash which is April 12 & 13. Reminded members club dues are $4. Roll call was taken and the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting is a skating party on February 4th at the Skate Zone in Greenville from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
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