Gress siblings prove Ag Is Cool
Thomas and Diane were recognized, along with seven other young people, by Gov. Kasich and other state officials for their work promoting agriculture. They were awarded prizes during a special ceremony at the state fair. Diane Gress received the Best in Show award.
The children of Joe and Lisa Gress of Shreve, Diane, 16, and Thomas, 9, saw an ad in a farm magazine for the contest and then submitted their art entries. Joe Gress said Diane did a time-lapse photographic piece that showed her drawing her entry, while narrating the process. Her amazing two-minute video can be seen on YouTube.com by searching for "Ohio Agriculture Is Cool." Creating award-winning art is not new for Diane Gress. She has received other awards for statewide agriculture art contests in the past.
"Diane is quite an artist," Joe Gress said, commenting on his daughter's talents. Young Thomas also has the artistic gift with his award winner.
Thomas will be a fourth-grader this fall at Shreve Elementary and Diane a junior at Triway High School. He was the winner of the grades three through five category for his photography.
The Gress family has had a busy summer. The children are still at the state fair, showing nine Ayrshire cattle owned by their grandfather, Tom Wolf. In September, they will have several projects at the Wayne County Fair, as members of the Clinton Lads and Lasses 4-H Club.
The Gress children get their involvement in ag-related activities honestly: through their parents. Joe Gress, president of the Buckeye Oliver Collectors, was busy with his wife and children earlier in July with the national Oliver show held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. He praised Thomas and Diane for their volunteer work before, during and after the show, noting it was the largest Oliver tractor show in the nation.
Promoting Ohio's agriculture for today, the future and its heritage seem to be part of the Gress family passions, and Thomas and Diane are continuing the tradition.