By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

LEWISBURG, Ohio — Gov. Ted Strickland wrapped up his two-day tour of western Ohio agriculture at the Preble County farm of Lane and Bambi Osswald on March 19. Strickland said there were many goals from the tour.

One of the goals was to tout the state’s Neighborhood Harvest program, which is designed to identify areas of Ohio that are in need of fresh food – then provide that area with Ohio-grown products. Second, Strickland was hoping to learn more about his state’s biggest industry.

“Agriculture is Ohio’s largest industry,” he explained.

“That surprises a lot of people who think of Ohio only as a manufacturing state. There are more than 60,000 people who work directly in agriculture in Ohio, and there are thousands more who work in careers closely related to agriculture.”

Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Robert Boggs joined Strickland on his farm tour. He said the Neighborhood Harvest program should work because every urban center in the state is near agriculture.

“In Ohio, our farms surround our cities,” Boggs said. “Because of that, our cities have access to farms, and our farmers have access to markets.”

Strickland said the food that rests on the average Ohioan’s table has traveled 1,500 miles to get there.

“We have a better way of getting better, fresher foods to the people who need it,” the governor reported.

“I was a little disappointed to find out that our schools buy less product from our state than California schools. That should change.”

Boggs added, however, that agriculture is more than food production.

“Energy is the new cash crop for farmers,” explained Boggs, who had previously visited an ethanol plant during the tour. “The governor’s energy proposal is the fourth-strongest in the country. We have to make sure that there are green jobs available here in Ohio.”

The tour didn’t allow Lane and Bambi Osswald much time to plan for Strickland’s visit. The Osswalds, owners of Growing Acres Farm, said they received a phone call from the governor’s office on March 15 saying that Strickland would visit on March 19.

“At first I didn’t take it very seriously; I thought it was a telemarketing call,” Bambi admitted.

Lane, who hosted Strickland, Boggs, their staffs, media and other guests in a barn, said there wasn’t much to prepare for the visit. The Osswalds, who were selected due to their involvement in the Ohio Soybean Assoc.’s young farmer program, introduced the governor to their children: Kacy, Natalie, Ethan and Claire. Lane’s brothers also attended: Adam and Kim Osswald with their sons, Joshua and Daniel; and Fred and Keri Osswald with children Blake and Grace.

Lane said there are many issues – not the least of which is monitoring the future of Ohio’s Livestock Care Board – concerning the state’s growers. He said having the opportunity to discuss those issues with Strickland was great.

“You don’t turn down an opportunity to host the governor,” Lane said. “To talk with him one-on-one is very valuable.”