COSHOCTON COUNTY

Coshocton farmers: 'Understand what these individuals sacrifice on a daily basis'

Goal of event is to increase public awareness of agriculture's role in modern society

Coshocton Tribune

COSHOCTON − Agriculture remains the top industry in Coshocton County and farmers were recently recognized for their hard work at the annual Ag Day Celebration Luncheon at Lake Park Pavilion.

Zach Wallace of Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District said the national recognition day is targeted at increasing public awareness of agriculture's role in modern society and is part of National Agriculture Week. The theme was "nurturing our soil, water and air."

Leah Allen and Brianna Karr deliver the FFA Creed during the recent Coshocton County Ag Day Luncheon at Lake Park.

Guest speaker was Amy Porteus of LB Porteus Farms on the expansion of their beef feedlot. It concentrates feeding of animals and finishes cattle for sending to market. This has included new manure storage practices and an automated feeding system.

Emily Marrison of Ohio State University Extension reads a poem about the American farmer at the annual Coshocton County Ag Day Luncheon at Lake Park Pavilion.

Emily Marrison of Ohio State University Extension served as host. Leah Allen and Brianna Karr of River View FFA delivered the FFA Creed.

"There's a lot of heart that goes into what farmers do," Marrison said. "But, besides the heart, the head has to be part of it too in order for it to be a successful business and for us to conserve the natural resources we have."

Amy Porteus speaks at the annual Coshocton County Ag Day Luncheon at Lake Park Pavilion. She talked about a new feedlot with automatic feeding system and manure facilities at her family farm.

Josh Henderson of Farm Credit Mid-America said farming is different from other businesses. Most companies buy at wholesale and sell at retail, but farmers do the opposite. Because of that, fluctuation in prices across all commodities is always a primary concern. Being that we live in a global economy, what happens around the world can affect local producers, he said.

And that's all beyond the basics of making sure they have a crop or animal to sell which can be impacted by weather, disease and various environmental factors.

"Coshocton County farmers, it's maybe not perceived as the most glamorous industry, but they're out there everyday doing the hard work. Whether it's a sunny day, a rainy day, a cold day or a frozen day, whatever it might be," Henderson said. "(Ag Day) gives us time to pause and sit back and understand what these individuals sacrifice on a daily basis."

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.