Ohio ag department readies for 2017 season
Ohio ag department readies for 2017 season
In April, former state representative Tim Derickson was named the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s assistant director, after serving as executive director of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Derickson has long been concerned with the state’s agriculture industry, and in 2011 while serving in the legislature, he sponsored a bill that was the genesis of Ohio Agriculture Week, an annual week of recognition dedicated to the state’s largest industry.
Tim DericksonFarming is nothing new to Derickson. As a youngster, he worked full-time on his family’s dairy farm in Hanover Township, Butler County, while attending Talawanda High School, Clark State Community College and Miami University.
“Farming and agriculture is my heritage and remains my passion,” Derickson said at the time of his appointment. “I have great respect for agriculture and food processing and the thousands of people who make a significant impact to the state. This industry employs one in seven Ohioans and frankly, it affects everyone. I look forward to being part of a team that promotes the industry, protects consumers, promotes environmental stewardship and monitors plant and animal health, among many important duties.”
In his new role, Derickson will oversee ODA’s daily operations, including management of more than 450 employees and more than 15 divisions and offices.
The ODA has been keeping busy bringing buzz to the industry with people of all ages. Last month, it launched a “Agriculture is Cool!” creative expression contest, asking children to interpret why Ohio agriculture is cool for a chance to win prizes, including tickets to the Ohio State Fair. It also recently announced its winner of the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program, awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a youngster for growing a 39.8-pound cabbage as part of the company’s annual nationwide contest.
Nominations are also being accepted for the organization’s 2017 Conservation Farm Family Awards, which recognize Ohio farm families who are leaders in conservation.
Throughout the school season, Ohio Proud, the marketing arm of ODA, has worked with Columbus City Schools to implement the “Ohio Days: My Plate, My State” lunch initiative, where once every month, Ohio’s largest school district serves more than 52,000 students a full plate of Ohio-sourced foods.
