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News and Notes: February 27, 2026

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OUR VISION: Ohioans have the knowledge and resources they need to actively engage in creating conditions in which they thrive.  

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Leadership Notes

  1. Note from David Civittolo

    Thank you all so much for the time you invest in reporting the work you do. I know it can be a tedious task, but recording your efforts in Engage is critical in helping pull together meaningful reports that get shared in multiple places — within your communities, throughout the university, and

College Connections

  1. CFAES Research Forum and Poster Competition – April 9

    The annual CFAES Research Forum and Poster Competition will be April 9 (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. This event is a great chance to celebrate the amazing research happening across the college.

Community Connections

  1. Ohio Farm Transition Network

    A new statewide initiative, the Ohio Farm Transition Network (OFTN), has officially launched operations to address one of the most pressing challenges facing Ohio agriculture: helping farm families successfully plan for the transition of their farms to the next generation. 

  2. White-tailed Deer Damage Management Workshop – April 8

    The Ohio Community Wildlife Cooperative will host a workshop on April 8 (6-8 p.m.) in Dublin that focuses on managing white-tailed deer damage in urban settings. The workshop will include information on deer biology, impacts, and management strategies.

  3. 2026 Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference – March 10 and 11

    The 2026 Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference will be held March 10-11 at Ohio Northern University in Ada. Connect with farmers, agronomists, and ag industry leaders from throughout Ohio to explore new ideas in soil health, crop management, and conservation farming.

Programming Perspectives

  1. New and Small Farm Conference – March 14

    Join Extension professionals and other industry leaders for the New and Small Farm Conference on March 14 (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) in Wooster. This learning opportunity will help new and small-scale farmers throughout the state develop profitable, sustainable farms through education, networking, and

  2. Ohio River Valley Woodland and Wildlife Landowner Workshop – March 21

    This one-day workshop will bring together forestry and wildlife experts from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio to address common questions and management challenges that landowners face.

  3. East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference – March 27

    The 2026 East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference will be March 27 in Wooster. This year's event will feature keynote speaker Gina Orr from FreshOrr Family Farms.

Award Opportunities/Reminders

  1. OSEP Call for Grant Proposals Now Open – due March 23

    In collaboration with the Ohio State Energy Department (OSED), the Office of Academic Affairs has opened a call for grant proposals for programs that advance resource stewardship initiatives and/or align with academic sustainability goals. 

  2. North Central Region SARE Professional Development Grant Proposals – due April 2

    The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is accepting proposals for its professional development grant program. There will be an informational webinar on March 3 for those wanting to learn more. 

Operations/Business of Extension

  1. EEET Open Office Hours – March 4 and 5

    Join us for Evaluation of Effective Extension Teaching (EEET) Office Hours on March 4 (10 a.m.) and March 5 (1 p.m.). We will share process details of both online and paper EEET forms, tips for getting feedback, review of your personal dashboard with results, and answer any questions you have.

  2. Social Media Accessibility Training for Extension Professionals – March 4

    The ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Requirements that go into effect on April 24, 2026 will impact how Extension and Ohio 4-H share information with the public on social media. Julia Knaggs, CFAES social media manager, will lead a training on March 4 (10:30-11:30 a.m.) about how to

  3. Extension Marketing Meetup – March 4

    Join Extension Communications for the next Extension Marketing Meetup on March 4 (1:30 p.m.). The session will focus on ordering garments—for 4-H camp, gear for Extension faculty and staff, Master Gardener Volunteers, and more.

  4. Parking Changes at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center

    Beginning March 1, the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center will transition to Offstreet, which is CampusParc’s new guest parking system. This web platform will help keep record of guest vehicles in the lot and prevent unaffiliated vehicles from parking in it.

  5. STEP UP! Training – April 24 deadline

    Extension faculty and staff must complete the university’s STEP UP! non-compliant training by April 24. Those who don’t complete the training prior to the deadline will not be eligible for a merit increase (applicable to regular and term employees).

Celebrating Colleagues

  1. Ohio 4-H Week – March 8-14

    Ohio 4-H Week will be celebrated March 8-14. Last year, nearly 200,000 youth participated in Ohio 4-H programming throughout the state by way of camps, after-school programs, community clubs, and more. We value and appreciate the expertise and dedication of our 4-H youth development

Professional Development Opportunities

  1. Teaching and Learning to Build AI Fluency Endorsement

    The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning is offering a Build AI Fluency endorsement that provides a foundation for understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) works, the impact of AI on teaching and learning, how to use AI ethically in university courses and programs, and how

  2. Upcoming EPN Program to Focus on Severe Flooding Resiliency — March 10

    The Environmental Professionals Network’s (EPN) next program will be on March 10 (8-9:30 a.m.) at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. It will focus on building resilience to severe flooding in rural Ohio.

  3. OSP Office Hours

    The Office of Sponsored Programs and the CFAES Office for Research and Graduate Education provide scheduled office hours tailored to Extension professionals. These biweekly sessions aim to provide guidance and support for your grant-related inquiries, spanning from proposal submission to the epa

Health and Wellness

  1. Importance of Sunlight on Mental and Physical Health

    Sunlight plays a role in our overall health and well-being. Not only does sunshine give us vitamin D, but it helps boost our mood, energy level and our sleep patterns.

  2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Carpal tunnel syndrome is the topic of a recent Ohio State Health & Discovery article. This common hand condition can cause symptoms of numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain.