By DOUG GRAVES Ohio Correspondent
LEBANON, Ohio — Members of the Warren County Farm Bureau in Ohio want to remind residents what farmers are growing in their fields, what they do with excess manure and even what they do in the off-season. For the fourth straight year farmers and non-farmers will converge at Lebanon High School in southwestern Ohio on Feb. 28 for the Farmer’s Share Breakfast, giving non-farmers a chance to learn more about the agricultural community around them. “The main purpose of the breakfast is to allow the community to come in and visit with farmers, see agricultural displays, ask questions and open up the lines of communication with the non-farming public,” explained Warren County Farm Bureau board member Bernie Younkman. “And the reason we charge just $1 for each breakfast is because that $1 represents about what farmers receive for the meat, eggs, ham, cheese, grain and milk that go into each breakfast. The conversations that day will help people become better educated about how their food is grown, harvested, processed and brought to market.” Farm Bureau members will be manning 16 omelet makers. There visitors can add bacon, cheese, onions, peppers and other locally-grown vegetables to their omelet. Scrambled, pancakes, sausage links, milk, orange juice and coffee come with each meal. Last year, more than 700 meals were served. After each breakfast visitors can browse various displays and demonstrations. “This year we want to showcase the county’s goat industry, turkey industry, pleasure horses and beef farmers from the area,” Younkman said. “Too often we hear about the bad news about the agricultural community, and this gives people a chance to see the other sides of these stories.” Lebanon High School is located at 1916 Drake Road in Lebanon. The breakfast runs from 8-11 a.m. “Agriculture continues to be Ohio’s No. 1 industry, with each farmer producing enough food for 155 people,” Younkman said. “Only about 1.5 percent of Ohio’s population lives on farms and we need to find a way to communicate what really happens on farms.” For more information about the breakfast, call Younkman at 513-617-1984 or email bernieyounkman4h@gmail.com |
