by Dan Starcher | Oct 1, 2019 | Uncategorized
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 2019 — With all of the activity at the Wayne County Fair, it is hard to experience everything. But, there are some very informative programs taking place in the Grange Rotunda that shouldn’t be missed. The programs, courtesy of the Ohio State University Extension – Wayne County, are free and cover a variety of interesting topics.
In an effort to create opportunities for people to explore how science-based knowledge can improve social, economic, and environmental conditions, OSU Extension Office Director and Educator Melinda Hill said the programs evolve from the suggestions of visitors that attend each year. “The fair is a fun place to be,” she said. “It also gives us an opportunity to share information with people that can improve their quality of life in a variety of ways. The Grange Rotunda is a great place to sit down and talk.”
But, the programs are more than just oral presentations, they are designed to be interactive. Some are quickly becoming traditions, like the Smoothie Bike where guests can pedal their way to a nutritious smoothie at the end of their ride.
Along with tried-and-true programs like quilting and canning, Hill has added programs based on popularity and trends. This year, for the first time, there will be a presentation about the basics of air frying — a kitchen appliance designed to mimic the taste of deep-fried food with just a small amount of cooking oil.
Be sure to stop in at the Grange Rotunda building, the program schedule is:
Monday, Sept. 9
10:30 a.m. Smoothie Bike
11:30 a.m. Quick Snacks and Lunches
12:30 p.m. Sun Safety
2:00 p.m. Introduction to the Air Fryer
3:30 p.m. Smoothie Bike
Tuesday, Sept. 10
10:30 a.m. Make travel plans to NYC
11:30 a.m. Farm to School Project
12:30 p.m. Pottery
2:00 p.m. DNA and Genealogy
3:00 p.m. Fall Favorites
6:00 p.m. Wool Spinning
Wednesday, Sept. 11
10:30 a.m. What’s New in Wayne County
11:30 a.m. Homemade Laundry Supplies
1:00 p.m. Quilts Today
2:00 p.m. Floral Creations
3:00 p.m. Meal Prep Made Simple
Thursday, Sept. 12
11:30 a.m. Canning Soups
12:30 p.m. Canning Meats
2:00 p.m. Gardening Tips
For additional information, visit the OSU Extension – Wayne County Office online at wayne.osu.edu and the Wayne County Fair at www.waynecountyfairohio.com. OSU Extension Wayne County is funded, in part, by the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, State and Federal Government, private donations, and grants.
By Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
by Dan Starcher | Oct 1, 2019 | Uncategorized
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 2019 — It’s almost here! The opening day of the 170th annual Wayne County Fair is this Saturday, Sept. 7th. This year’s edition of the annual event gets “techie” thanks to a grant and the efforts of the OSU Extension Wayne County.
Earlier this month, Extension Educator Doug Foxx and his team unveiled the Wayne County 4-H application for mobile devices in both the Apple and Android stores. According to Foxx, people are visiting the fairgrounds early to check out the new Event Center and get a feel for the new layout. And, as fairgoers get their bearings, there is a new piece of technology available for free that can help.
“We are really excited about this app,” Foxx said. “It was created just in time for the Wayne County Fair. It has the fair schedule, the 4-H calendar of events for the entire year. It will really be helpful to people during the fair. The show books, auction programs, show results — all of the information that people are looking for at the fair — will be right at their fingertips.”
The application also features maps and a video section. Foxx explained that Jr. Fair Board members will be roaming around the grounds recording video to be featured in the app. “They will be like roving reporters during the fair,” he said. “They have a video camera and will be conducting interviews and capturing some of the stories that people have. Whether it will be a Grand Champion winner or a long-time 4-H volunteer, we want to share those stories.”
Although it is the first iteration of the application, it is fairly robust. And, Foxx maintains, it will continue to be upgraded. “We would like to expand the video features more in the future,” he said. “And maybe offer a password-protected area for our committee members to store documents.
Currently, Foxx said, there are more than 500 active users of the application, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “We will learn some things from this year’s fair,” he continued. “There will be things that we want to tweak.”
The application is free and there is no need to enter an email or password. According to Foxx, the app is ready to go as soon as it is downloaded and it even features a photo booth. Visit Wayne County 4-H on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WayneCty4H and the Wayne County Extension Office at www.facebook.com/OSUEWayne.
OSU Extension Wayne County is funded, in part, by the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, State and Federal Government, private donations, and grants.
By Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
