Annual Meeting Scheduled for August 19 at Round Lake

Despite the challenges of large gatherings in 2020, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District and Ashland Farm Bureau are proceeding with plans to host their annual meeting on August 19—with a few adjustments to meet current social distancing requirements.

This year’s event will feature an evening of ice cream and entertainment at Round Lake instead of a traditional sit-down meal. And, portions of the evening’s program will be shared on social media so that those who are not comfortable attending a larger event can still enjoy the program.

“2020 has been a year like no other, so it just makes sense that our annual meeting is going to be a little different than anything we’ve done before, too,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD program administrator. “We’ve made some changes to our annual meeting to reflect the current health situation, but the bottom line is that we are gathering to celebrate agriculture and conservation in Ashland County and to make decisions that will impact those areas for years to come.”

During the evening Ashland SWCD will recognize it’s 2020 award winners: Cooperator of the Year Sycamore Valley Farm (Josh and Lindsay Welch), Volunteer of the Year Kathy Keiling, and Horizon Award winners Dale and Beth Barr. The district will also celebrate the accomplishments of the last year, including their selection as the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation District of the Year for 2020.

“We are excited to recognize such a diverse group of people in our annual meeting this year, from beginning farmers Josh and Lindsay Welch to long-time soil and water conservation enthusiasts Dale and Beth Barr,” Houin said. “We want to share their stories of how the citizens of Ashland County can partner with organizations like Ashland SWCD and Farm Bureau to make an impact on the soil health and water quality in our community.”

And of course, the annual meeting would not be complete without a little business. Election voting will take place for both Ashland SWCD and Ashland Farm Bureau as well as policy development for Farm Bureau. SWCD election voting is open to all Ashland County residents and landowners age 18 and over; voting will take place August 9-22 with absentee voting currently underway at the SWCD office.

“Election of our board of supervisors is critical to the long-term success and vision of Ashland SWCD,” Houin said, noting that Ashland SWCD is governed by a five-member, publicly elected board of volunteers that shape the mission and direction of district programming.

This year, residents will select one new member of the Ashland SWCD board of supervisors. Candidates are Roger Amos and Steve Hughes. Amos is the former agricultural Extension agent for Ashland County, and Hughes co-hosts the “Kickin’ Clods” agricultural radio show on WZLP. More information about the candidates can be found at ashlandswcd.com in the news section of the site.

Registration for the annual meeting is free, but reservations are required. Guests can RSVP to Ashland Farm Bureau at 330-263-7456 or through the Event Brite page on the Ashland SWCD or Ashland Farm Bureau Facebook pages.