03-02-2023

Rotarians and guests celebrate Rural Urban Day

03/02/2023

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

March Calendar – Bob Sneed, Program Chair

2nd: Rural Urban Day

9th: Ana Dutra – Brazil Rotary Student Exchange

13th: Soup Kitchen

16th: New Hope Students – Guardians on Honor Flight

23rd: Megan Moorman – CHS FFA

27th: Soup Kitchen

30th: Terry Klinker – Hurricane Katrina

Upcoming Dates:

  • April 28-29, 2023 – District 6690 Conference – Veteran’s Memorial
  • June 16, 2023 – Golf outing at Pickaway Country Club

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  • Presiding: President David M. Crawford
  • Pledge of Allegiance: Judy Wolford
  • Prayer: Norm Wilson
  • Attending: Crawford, Nemes-Crawford, Poling, Spangler, Ankrom, Beavers, Brown, Canfield, C.Chamberlain, Colburn, Dailey, Dean, Droste, Elick, Ellis, Foster, Fountain, Fouts, Hooks, Johnson, Justinger, Kramer, Maroscher, Mavis, McNemar, C.Neff, Rawlins, Riegel, Robinson, Rothe, Schreiner, Sneed, I.Webb, Wilson, R.Wolfe, Wolford, Layton, Hafey, Young, Blanton, Horning

Merit Badge help needed: Scouts in Troop 52 are working on their Geology merit badge. They are in search of a geologist or Civil Engineer willing to help them learn about our environment. If you can help out, please contact Joe McNemar (614-580-8074) or Scoutmaster Rob Fanska (850) 529-6724‬.

New member board approved: Tom Duvall has been approved by the executive board for membership. He is a retired product manager and currently serves on Circleville City Council. Tom is sponsored by Gary Dean.

Rural Urban Day: We had approximately 90 people in attendance, one of the largest crowds in the past several years. Rotary showed its appreciation to the agricultural community who keeps us food secure and provides stewardship of the land. We thank the Presbyterian Church congregational care team for our wonderful meal and table decorations.

Earliest mention of Rotary’s Rural Urban Day in the Herald is 1965.

Ellery Elick thanked his committee – Warren Spangler, Judy Wolford, Angela Beavers, Fred Mavis & Rick Rawlins. He introduced Mike Estadt from Pickaway Co. OSU Extension who spoke on “Pickaway County – A Look Back, A Look Forward”

1 – 49 acres: 1920 – 429 farms; 2020 – 346 farms

50-179 acres: 1920- 1,085 farms; 2020 – 183 farms

180-999 acres: 1920 – 604 farms; 2020 – 323 farms

1000+ acres: 1920 – 2 farms; 2020 – 88 farms

Farmland Value Per Acre: 1920 – $148.48 ($2,324 adjusted for inflation); 2020 – $6,033

Major Crops

Corn Acres: 1920 – 85,871; 2017 – 105,880

Corn Production: 1920 – 4,231,316; 2017 – 19,214,444

Wheat Acres: 1920 – 78,069; 2017 – 9,386

Oats Acres: 1920 – 2,346; 2017 – 1 farm

Livestock

Sheep: 1920 – 10,727; 2020 – 1,062

Swine: 1920 – 57,761; 2020 – 2,841

Beef Cattle: 1920 – 17,784; 2020 – 2,155

Dairy Cattle: 1920 – 9,933; 2020 – 1,775

Fruits and Vegetables

Acres of potatoes: 1920 – 632; 2017 – 117

Trees in orchards: 1920 – 36,860; 2017 – 39

Strawberries/Raspberries/Blackberries: 1920 – 22 acres; 2023 – 1 farm

What is going on right now?

Electric tractors and laser weeder in development

Vertical farming

Gene splicing to help those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity

High rise hog farm in China currently used – 100,000 sows in the building

Artificial Intelligence is coming – sensors in fields to measure insects, moisture, etc. keeping farmers in front of computers more and more

A look back at the Stevenson family and others who farmed our county