The Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District will celebrate Ottawa County’s vibrant farming community on March 10-16, highlighted by the annual Ottawa County AG Breakfast on Thursday, March 15 and the 4th annual Farm Forum on Thursday, March 21.

For more information on Ag Week, check the Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District supplement in this week’s edition of The Beacon.

“The Ag Week events will give county farmers the chance to highlight our farming culture as we move into springtime,” said Michael Libben, the district administrator of the Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District since 2012.

“While raising corn and soybeans are the bread and butter of the Ottawa County agricultural industry, we also have a fairly diverse group that includes beekeepers, orchardists and livestock producers, among others. We don’t have dairy farms in Ottawa County, but we have a good relationship with livestock producers to head off any manure issues.”

A great many youngsters around the county are involved with 4-H clubs, said Libben, and enjoy livestock projects. There are small beef farms scattered around the region, he said, “and horses all over the place.”

Local food markets will kick off National Ag Week on Monday, March 14 by giving out free reusable shopping bags sporting the Ottawa Soil & Water brand. Shoppers that day will receive the shopping bags at Bassett’s Market in Port Clinton, Miller’s New Market in Genoa and the Community Market in Oak Harbor.

The big Ag Week event is the Ottawa County Ag Breakfast on Friday, March 15 at 8 a.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Oak Harbor. The $5 buffet will include scrambled eggs, sausages and pancakes and the featured speaker will be Terry Cosby, State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

All proceeds will go for scholarships to be awarded to high school students living in Ottawa County and planning a career in agriculture.

The 4th annual Farm Forum on March 21 at 9 a.m. will be held at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds in Oak Harbor. The lineup of speakers ranges from farmers Aaron Heilers, Brian Brandt, Dave Myerholtz and Mike Libben to Brian Gibbs of Gibbs Aero on “Cover Crop Experiences from Above.”

For reservations, call 419-898-1595.

CUTLINE: Corn and soybean farming are the bread and butter of Ottawa County’s agricultural industry, a diverse group that includes beekeepers, orchardists, beef cattle producers and many other types of farmers.