PDT Staff Writer

The Scioto County Commissioners have proclaimed Scioto County Agriculture Week, March 18-24, to coincide with the National Agriculture Week campaign.

Loretta McClure is president of the Scioto County Farm Bureau, with about 1,200 members in the county. She said agriculture is one of the largest industries in Scioto County.

“We sometimes take for granted the quality, abundance and value of the food we eat each day. American agriculture plays a crucial role in strengthening our economy,” McClure said. “We call upon the citizens of Scioto County to celebrate the achievements of those who work together to produce these products.”

As the commissioners signed this year's proclamation, they each were awarded a gift basket containing eggs, apple butter, apples, goat milk soap, pumpkin bread and more.

“(The baskets) give them a little more idea of what is available and produced in Scioto County. We have everything ranging from corn and soy bean production, hay production, livestock, beef, cattle and we also have emerging livestock industry of meat-market goats,” said Leanne Fuhrmann, of the Scioto County Farm Bureau.

During the month of March, the county commissioners also will be selecting a winner among T-shirt designs by fourth-grade students, to be presented to the nearly 500 participants of Scioto County Ag-Adventures Day on April 26 at the fairgrounds. Last year, Fuhrmann said, the bureau had more than 250 entries.

Fuhrmann also said the agriculture is one of the industries in Scioto County whose dollars stay in the county.

According to the bureau, agriculture is a nearly $80 billion industry, supplying about one million jobs in the state of Ohio. One acre of land, they said, can produce 42,000 pounds of strawberries, or 8,900 pounds of sweet corn.

“We appreciate all that they do,” said Commissioner Skip Riffe. “They take their role very seriously and we're just proud to be associated with them.”

Commissioners have annually proclaimed an Agriculture Week in the county to go along with the national awareness campaign.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.