By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent HILLSBORO, Ohio — A newly-created position in The Ohio State University extension will address animal welfare, beef management and production and pre-harvest food safety for Ohioans. It’s called the OSU extension beef coordinator, and the first to be appointed to that position is Brown County specialist John Grimes, a 25-year veteran of extension and an owner of Maplecrest Farms in Hillsboro.
“It’s been a long and winding road to get to this position,” Grimes said. “I started out as an extension specialist with Brown County in 1986 and between 1990-93 I was a multi-county agent with Brown and Adams counties, before going full-time with Brown County in 1994. In 1998, I became the extension agent for Highland County.
“I’m excited. I’ll still have responsibilities with our extension program, but the vast majority of my work will be with our beef cattle here in Ohio. There is a lot to do with beef cattle in Ohio, and in the short term, a lot of my emphasis will be on animal welfare issues and the Ohio Livestock Standards Board.
“I’ll be working hand-in-hand with the Ohio extension service, Ohio Beef Council (OBC) and Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA). In addition, I’ll help the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association set up their district meetings and their beef educational programs.”
Grimes received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from OSU, where he majored in animal science. Grimes resides in Hillsboro and his office is located in Wooster.
Grimes is no newcomer to beef. He, his wife, Joanie, and daughters, Lindsey and Lauren, manage Maplecrest Farms in Hillsboro. There they raise, show and sell competitive and longstanding seedstock. The family is a Gardiner Angus Ranch GAR) Allied Producer, they market many of their bulls at GAR’s spring and fall sales.
“Grimes’ experience with livestock and passion for education has prepared him to take on this important effort,” said Keith Smith, associate vice president for agricultural administration and director of OSU extension. “Animal care and food safety are key issues for Ohio farmers and consumers alike. He will help promote practices recommended by the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.”
The OSU extension beef coordinator position will be based out of the OSU South Centers in Piketon, and will be funded in partnership with the OCA and OCB.
“We’re grateful to the OCA and OBC for partnering with us to create this new position,” Smith said. “The economic realities of the day require creativity so we can continue to address the needs of Ohioans.
“Part of OSU extension’s mission is to help Ohio businesses grow and be more profitable. This new effort strengthens our ability to provide Ohio’s $1.3 billion beef industry with the information its producers need to succeed.”
One of his goals, Grimes said, is to focus programming on increasing consumer confidence and awareness regarding Ohio’s beef industry. He will also emphasize adding economic value to Ohio’s beef production, adoption of on-farm management practices and marketing techniques that will add value to the state’s feeder calf production, niche markets as a viable marketing option and efficient forage production and utilization systems.
“This position is about sharing information across all industry sectors to add economic value to Ohio’s beef production,” said Elizabeth Harsh, executive director of the OCA and OBC.
Grimes can be reached at 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, OH 45661, by phone at 740-289-2071 or cell phone at 937-763-6000 or by e-mail at grimes.1@osu.edu |
