Hunter family honored at Holmes SWCD’s annual meeting
The Bob and Karen Hunter family was awarded the Holmes SWCD Friend of Conservation at the annual SWCD meeting on Nov. 19.
On Nov. 19 at Harvest Ridge, 188 people attended Holmes Soil & Water’s annual meeting. Attendees had the pleasure of listening to keynote speakers Bob Hunter and Kevin Beachy discuss the treasure that is their family farm in Glenmont.
Hunter regaled attendees with the history of the farm and informed the audience about conservation practices they practice including invasive plant control and native prairie maintenance. The pair highlighted the many events held at their farm, Ancestor Acres/Mitten Woods, from photography sessions to cross country meets and competitive races.
The Bob and Karen Hunter family was awarded our Friend of Conservation award for, among numerous other events, hosting our first Conservation Day Camp for children age 7-12 in July. Almost 60 children enjoyed a day at their farm filled with outdoor fun and education. Hosting students for outdoor and natural resources education has always been a priority for their family. Unsurprisingly, they will continue this new tradition in the new year, as they will host Holmes Soil & Water’s second Conservation Day Camp on July 9, 2025, with stations such as archery, forestry and pond study.
Holmes Soil and Water staff and board members also presented the Conservation Farm Award to Big Little Farms. Big Little Farms was recognized for its years of dedication to both soil health and conservation and its overall commitment to the conservation community.
Tom Graham’s family members also helped us recognize both East and West Holmes fifth grade winners of our Tom Graham 5th Grade Farm Tour essay contest. We were delighted to celebrate the achievements of our essay winners. We thoroughly enjoyed reading their narrative essays recounting their trips to either Velvet-View Farms for West Holmes students or Ayrdell Farms for East Holmes students. Both farm tour host families were present to receive their Cooperator Signs and acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of our student award winners.
The East and West Holmes FFA members also presented their awards to farm tour poster contest winners. This year’s winners created artistic, memorable posters that conveyed what they experienced at each farm. Our local FFA chapters always help lead the 5th Grade Farm Tour, and their dedication to this worthwhile event helps make each field day a success.
Jason Shumaker and Jason Biltz also deserve our congratulations on their reelection to Holmes Soil & Water Board of Supervisors for another three-year term. We appreciate all who attended and hope to see our guests at next year’s annual meeting or one of the many events we are organizing for 2025.
As we look forward to the future, be sure to mark your calendars for Holmes Soil & Water’s 2025 must-attend events. Start your mornings with the Breakfast Club from December 2024 to March 2025 at the Love Center, where you can enjoy a free breakfast and an agriculture-based educational program.
Each month features guest speakers from local agencies including the Holmes County Auditor’s Office and CAUV discussions on Dec. 19, Farm Credit and OSU Extension on Jan. 16, Pheasant Forever and Division of Wildlife on Feb. 20, and the Farm Bureau and Holmes SWCD Local Work Group on March 20. Doors to the Love Center open at 7 a.m., with each program beginning at 8 a.m.
For women interested in conservation, agriculture and natural resources, Holmes Soil & Water’s Ladies of the Land will continue to offer engaging events in Holmes County. Upcoming highlights include Blooms & Branches: Spring in the Woods with the Wilderness Center in March and Pedals & Plumes: Intro to Birding on the Holmes County Trail in April.
Thanks to generous grant funding from Enbridge Gas Ohio in partnership with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy District, our events in 2025 will be better than ever. Don’t miss these opportunities to learn and connect with your community. Call our office at 330-674-2811 ext. 3 or email holmes.swcd@gmail.com for more information.