Columbiana FB earns 10 star awards

HANOVERTON, Ohio – Columbiana County Farm Bureau past president Homer Althouse was feted with the organization’s distinguished service award at the group’s annual meeting Sept. 14.
Althouse and his wife, Marilyn, were on hand for the meeting at United Local High School, along with the couple’s four children and their spouses. The family also includes 10 grandchildren.
Althouse has also served on the county’s board of trustees.
He retired in 1989 from Althouse Brothers Dairy Farm and currently operates H.P. Fence Company. He’s active in the community as a 42-year member of the Winona Ruritan, and has also served on the Winona Volunteer Fire Department, United Local board of education and as a Butler Township trustee.
Stars. Organization Director Nick Kennedy and state trustee Jeff Zellers congratulated committee chairpersons for their achievements, which earned the county all 10 star awards from the state organization.
Committee chairs who directed the group’s activities in 2005-2006 were Connie Heffinger and Julee Kelly, advisory councils and young farmers; Lucille Huston, information and membership; Homer Althouse, government affairs; Joyce Bailey, safety; Christine Miller, youth; Johanna McDowell, promotion and education; Dave Chronister, ag ecology; Jim Hoppel, policy development; and Marilyn Winn, Nationwide sponsorship.
Members who signed at least 10 new members joined the ambassador’s club. Those members were Jean Roush, Herb Eglie and Lucille Huston.
Zellers also put Nick Kennedy in the spotlight for leading the county group. Kennedy oversees four counties, all of which earned the maximum 10 stars for program work.
Policy. Nearly 80 members in attendance voted on recommended policies to send to the state. Among those were local suggestions on the piggy-back sales tax, land use, ATV identification and intersection visibility.
Members also support widening the intersection at Lincoln Avenue and South Pidgeon Road on the south side of Salem, and adding a turn lane at the state Route 45 bypass.
State policies include continuation of CAUV, uninsured motorist limits, mobile food unit licensing and concealed weapons. Federal policies deal with the death tax, eminent domain, renewable fuels, immigration and waste management.
Guest speakers. Ohio State University Extension educator Ernie Oelker reported on the county’s land use planning survey. Oelker urged participation, noting the county currently has 260 surveys returned, with a goal of 1,000 by the end of September.
“Whether or not you want development, get involved. Even if we ignore it, it’s still going to happen,” he said.
County resident Jan Douglas also reported on a project she’s spearheading. Sales from a collector-quality poster featuring barns in the county will benefit the county’s 4-H program, she said. Douglas asked attendees to submit photos of their working barns to be included on the poster.
Other business. Scholarships were presented to Samantha Cope of Alliance and Troy Lindesmith of Hanoverton. Both are students at Youngstown State University.
Members also heard a report from Adam Moravitz, a coordinator for Lifeline vascular disease screenings. A public screening clinic will be held Nov. 17 at the Columbiana Church of the Nazarene.
Leaders. Committee chairs for the 2006-2007 program year remain the same as last, with the addition of Jimmie Miller as youth council adviser. The advisory council and young farmers and promotion and education committee positions are vacant.
Elected to two-year terms on the board of trustees were Homer Althouse, Phil Greenisen, Gloria Mathews, Thomas Roush, Joyce Bailey, Mitch Cattrell, David Chronister and Wayne Smith.
Delegates for the 2007 state annual meeting are Greenisen, Kevin Baker, Rhonda Farmer, Myron Wehr and Susan Zehentbauer. Alternates are Sally and David Chronister.
(Reporter Andrea Myers welcomes reader feedback by phone at 800-837-3419 or by e-mail at amyers@farmanddairy.com.)