Clinton County Farm Bureau awards scholarship to Olivia Wood

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WILMINGTON — The Clinton County Farm Bureau has awarded a scholarship to a 2017 East Clinton graduate who will attend Wilmington College this fall to study agriculture.

The recipient, Olivia Wood of Sabina, is particularly interested in animal reproduction and has a career goal to become an embryologist.

Wood has had a memorable summer. In June she represented Ohio as a 2017-18 Shorthorn Lassie in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Shorthorn Jr. Nationals; in July she served as a Clinton County Junior Fair princess; and then to cap things off she exhibited the Jr. Reserve Grand Champion Shorthorn Heifer at the Ohio State Fair.

As a high school senior, she was the East Clinton FFA Chapter vice president.

Wood is very active in the Ohio BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) Program.

The county farm bureau scholarship is for $500.

At the Clinton County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting Thursday night, two guest speakers talked about potential opportunities for growers in light of the craft brewing boom. Dave Volkman of Maineville spoke about hops, and Jamie Arthur of Spring Valley near northwest Clinton County focused on malting barley as a new crop opportunity.

Arthur said he thinks craft brewers will be around for a while. Volkman said currently there are a total of 253 breweries in Ohio, and more than 5,000 in the United States.

It takes three years for hops, which are a perennial plant, to reach maturity, according to Volkman.

He is aware of two Clinton Countians who are in the early phases of setting up “hop yards.”

Hops are an alternative crop, said Volkman, adding The Ohio State University received a grant in 2012 from the United States Department of Agriculture to look at the possibilities for hops in the state.

Another opportunity connected to the craft beer movement, he said, has to do with beer makers who brew fruit beers. For example, there are watermelon, strawberry, and mango beers, said Volkman, so fruit growers might consider finding a brewery that’s interested in buying the grower’s fresh fruit.

“The brewer I deal with in Cincinnati brews a lot of fruit beers. They would love to have local contacts instead of buying from out of state because they are very committed to local products,” added Volkman.

Arthur said malting barley is an alternative to winter wheat, though he said it is a little harder to grow than winter wheat.

Clinton County Farm Bureau President Beth Ellis, in her event comments, said the farm bureau does a very fine job of getting to the forefront of farming-related issues. Furthermore, the county farm bureau gives directly back to the community, she said.

“Every meeting we talk about what more can we do in our community,” said Ellis. The FFA, 4-H and local farmers market are groups or activities that receive Clinton County Farm Bureau support.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.

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Jamie Arthur, standing at right, shows Jo Anne Lindsey, seated in center, three versions of hops — freshly picked hop cones off the vine, dry cones, and pellets. Later during the same Clinton County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Arthur was one of two guest speakers.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/08/web1_malting_barley_p_f.jpgJamie Arthur, standing at right, shows Jo Anne Lindsey, seated in center, three versions of hops — freshly picked hop cones off the vine, dry cones, and pellets. Later during the same Clinton County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Arthur was one of two guest speakers. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

Olivia Wood of Sabina, left, receives an oversize check for $500 from Clinton County Farm Bureau President Beth Ellis. Wood was awarded the Clinton County Farm Bureau’s annual scholarship.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/08/web1_wood_p_f.jpgOlivia Wood of Sabina, left, receives an oversize check for $500 from Clinton County Farm Bureau President Beth Ellis. Wood was awarded the Clinton County Farm Bureau’s annual scholarship. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

By Gary Huffenberger

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