Current LEAD class announced

COLUMBUS – Twenty-five individuals from across Ohio have been selected to participate in Class IX of the Ohio Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program.

Emerging leaders are nominated and selected on a competitive basis from across the state of Ohio for the two-year program.

The LEAD experience is delivered through lectures, on-site visits, class assignments, group discussions and many other learning experiences all within a framework of ten study institutes in Ohio, a study institute to the Chicago Board of Trade, and three travel seminars to Washington D. C., Hawaii, and Europe.

The new class includes: Philipp J. Altstaetter, Elizabeth Sanders Cline, Sheryl E. Clinger, Matthew H. Davis, Jeffrey A. Easterday, Douglas M. Eggeman, Cathy J. Eifert, Cheryl L. Engle, Daniel N. Fullenkamp, Craig E. Graf, Mark Hardesty, Vickie Holdren, Heather R. Norris, Beverly J. Riddle, Edward W. Rosebrook, Mark A. Ruff, Lisa L. Schacht, Jeff J. Shawhan, Jim A. Shertzer, Rebecca A. Singer, B. Jill Smith, Salesa D. Smith, Tim Sword, Reginald V. Williamson and Donald L Wray.

About the participants. Philipp J. Altstaetter of Jackson Center in Shelby County, an agronomist/ salesperson with Auglaize Provico, a full service cooperative serving west central Ohio.

Elizabeth Sanders Cline, of West Alexandria in Preble County, is the District Administrator for the Preble Soil and Water Conservation District.

Sheryl E. Clinger of Columbus is the training coordinator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation.

Matthew H. Davis of North Baltimore in Wood County, is the manager at Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Northwest Branch.

Jeffrey A. Easterday of Delaware in Delaware County is an attorney with the Dublin law firm of Wright & Logan.

Douglas M. Eggeman of Xenia in Greene County is the location manager of a grain elevator for Central Soya Company at Jeffersonville.

Cathy J. Eifert of Lewis Center in Delaware County, is a senior credit analyst for Producers Credit Corporation, a subsidiary of United Producers.

Cheryl L. Engle of Lima in Allan County, is an office assistant at the northwest district office of OSU Extension in Findlay.

Daniel N. Fullenkamp of Maria Stein, Mercer County, owns and operates Othmary Farms, a 100-cow dairy. In addition to the dairy, he farms 300 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa.

Craig E. Graf from Summit County is a co-owner of Graf Growers in Akron. The company is a direct marketing producer of flowers and vegetables that raises 70 acres of vegetables as well as bedding and specialty plants in approximately 1 acre of greenhouse.

Mark Hardesty of Maria Stein in Mercer County, is a bovine veterinarian and partner in the Maria Stein Animal Clinic.

Vickie Holdren of Ashland in Ashland County owns and operates AgVantage Marketing, an agricultural risk management company. She is a futures broker who advises agricultural businesses in hedging and selling their commodities.

Heather R. Norris of Toledo in Lucas County, is a naturalist/ historic interpreter for the Metroparks of the Toledo Area.

Beverly J. Riddle of Mount Pleasant in Jefferson County is district program administrator for the Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District. Riddle and her husband, Bruce, own and operate Irish Ridge Farm where they raise registered Black Angus.

Edward W. Rosebrook of Deshler in Henry County farms in partnership with his brother in a cash grain operation, raising corn, soybeans, wheat, and straw in Henry and Wood counties.

Mark A. Ruff of Circleville in Pickaway County, is the owner and operator of Ruff Farms, a diversified crop and livestock operation, and Luxury Lawn, a residential and commercial lawn seeding and sod installation company.

Lisa L. Schacht of Canal Winchester in Franklin County is a producer and direct marketer of small fruits and vegetables.

Jeff J. Shawhan of South Charleston in Greene County farms in partnership with his father in a 2,000 acres commercial cash grain operation.

Jim A. Shertzer of Columbus is a regional manager/team leader for AgriGold Hybrids.

Rebecca A. Singer of Sherwood in Defiance County is the functional foods program manager for the Center for Innovative Food Technology, a division of the Edison Industrial Systems Center in Toledo.

B. Jill Smith of Athens in Athens County is an organizational director for the Ohio Farm Bureau in Athens, Gallia and Lawrence counties.

Salesa D. Smith of Sidney in Shelby County, is a grain merchant for Cargill.

Tim Sword of Columbus is the international trade specialist for the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Reginald V. Williamson of Cincinnati is a senior commodity representative with Central Soya Company.

Donald L Wray of Rossford in Wood County, is the plant operations manager for The Anderson’s river terminals.

About the program. The goals of the program emphasize the development of hands-on leadership skills and education so that each individual can make a difference in their community. LEAD is designed to develop broad-based leaders, who understand not only agriculture but also the social, economic, and political dimensions of the local, national and global environments in which the sector operates.

For additional information contact Ohio LEAD Program, Ohio State University Extension, 2120 Fyffe Road, 232 Ag Admin. Bldg. Columbus, OH 43210; 614-292-6021.