A few weeks ago, President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., First Lady Lynda Carter, Dean Kress, and their team embarked on the State Tour, a tradition allowing university presidents to explore different parts of the state. This year, the Office of the President was particularly interested in learning more about OSU Extension.
“This tour provided tangible proof of the impact Extension’s work has in every Ohio county,” said Cathann A. Kress, vice president of agricultural administration and dean of CFAES. “The engagement President Carter had with stakeholders, Extension faculty and staff, and volunteers exemplified how Ohio State resources and educational workshops impact Ohioans across the lifespan. Thank you specifically to the Lake and Lorain County Extension teams for your hospitality and careful intention as you planned each stop.”
In Lorain County, Jacki Baca, Thomas Becker, and Sally Hennessy planned an event oriented around their county Extension office. Their goal was to showcase the team’s strong collaborations with community stakeholders, much like our other Extension offices. They set up interactive tables, each led by an Extension professional and a partner, where the President, First Lady, and stakeholders engaged with programs and local delicacies. The rest of the Extension team in Lorain County was essential to the successfulness of the stop too – thank you to Rhonda Van Den Bossche, Julie Mackey, Whitney Stollings, Bailey Wise, Sherry Lacko-Chutes, Noah Clegg, and Payton Lunn for all that you contributed to the experience.
In Lake County, Lisa Manning organized a visit to the Lake County Fair, hosting not only the President, First Lady, and their entourage, but also 25 Ohio State students and Brutus. A meet and greet with Lake County leaders and a sampling of the fair’s famous milkshakes made this stop memorable. Behind the scenes, Beth Smith, Ann Chanon, Abigail Comar, Beth Bollas, Sandra Slater, Mary Steelman, June Whittaker, and Macie Wrachford contributed to the stop’s success.
Here’s a link to a video that recaps the entire two-day tour — State Tour Recap Video.