Hancock County Farm Tour 2016

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Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Ag Credit
Agri-Business Committee
Blanchard River Watershed Partnership
Boes Brothers, Inc.
Citizens National Bank
Findlay Implement Co.
Findlay Publishing Company
First Federal Bank
Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau
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Hancock Farm Bureau
Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District
Hancock Wood-Electric Cooperative
Kalmbach Feeds
Legacy Farmers Cooperative
Ohio Soybean Council
OSU Extension Service
Streacker Tractor Sales
The University of Findlay
Many of our area’s most recognized businesses
have discovered the importance that supporting
the Farm Tour 2016 brings:
A variety of civic-minded businesses recognize
that the Farm Tour 2016 is an effective communications tool, bringing value to companies and
their employees, and special acknowledgment
and appreciation from tour participants like you.
Thanks to all the
Farm Tour 2016 Supporters
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Grain and Livestock
VanSant Farms
Milking Cows
Spahr Dairy Farm
www.hancockswcd.com/2016-farm-tour
Map Inside!
Beef Cattle
Good News Grass & Cattle
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Fruth’s Sugar House,
Greenhouse & Floral
Sugar Camp and Greenhouse
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, September 17, 2016
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Crop and Livestock
Horn Farms
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The University of FIndlay
The Animal Science Center
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The Rieck Center for Habitat Studies
The University of Findlay
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Spend a day in the country that’s both
fun and educational for your family. One
can visit any or all of the eight different stops along a 25-mile route through
Hancock County. Along the way, you’ll
learn about agriculture and the variety of
local businesses that help make farming
the number one industry in the county.
Jersey Cattle
D & M Farms LLC
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Tours open to the public
Saturday, September 17, 2016
10:00 am-5:00 pm
Public Open House
Farm Tour Stops
Hancock County
Hancock County Farm Tour 2016
What will you see?
Held every four years since 1970, Farm Tour 2016
includes stops at diverse agricultural businesses.
There are locations that feature traditional farms,
including those that raise hogs, cattle and sheep.
At these locations one will get a chance to see
how arms in Hancock County operate. The following is just a small sampling of what one will see
on the trip.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
10:00 am-5:00 pm
Hancock Co. agriculture facts
How to get around
Though gas and oil fields stimulated industrial
activity, and while the county’s population has
grown to more than 74,000, over 90% of the county’s 340,380 acres are still devoted to agriculture.
Food and beverages will be on sale at some stops.
Please be sure to use trash receptacles and respect the environment.
The county received its charter in 1828. From that
time until 1886, when natural gas was discovered
in plentiful supply, agriculture was the principal
way of life for most of the county’s residents.
Please observe any parking instructions at the
hosts’ farms. We are their guests, and they are
participating strictly as volunteers. Please drive
carefully, and watch for pedestrians.
There are 532 square miles of land in Hancock
County. Having a mean elevation of 782 feet
above sea level, about 75% of the area drains
to the Maumee River, while the remainder goes
to the Portage River. The county experiences 35
inches of average annual rainfall, and the mean
temperature is 50.3 degrees.
A map on the reverse side shows you the best
route. You may start anywhere you like, although
we recommend starting at #1 or #8 if you plan to
see them all. It’s up to you how long you spend
on the tour, although we suggest you allow 3-4
hours.
Parking
Refreshments
Restrooms & picnicking
There’s a lot to agriculture
Agriculture is so much more than corn, beans and
cattle! For example, the Rieck Center for Habitat
Studies will show a wide range of natural habitats
across 55-acres of nature preserve. Fruth’s Sugar
House, Greenhouse, and Floral will show alternative farming and you can visit several historic
barns and learn the history and importance of
their preservation as well.
Restrooms (portable toilets) will be available at
several stops. One can also visit larger restrooms
at our area county/village parks as indicated on
the map.
Of Ohio’s 88 counties, Hancock normally ranks in
the top ten counties in soybeans, corn and wheat
and in the top twenty in the state in total cash receipts from farm activities.
Category
Hancock
Number of Farms
Acres in Farms
Crop Income
Livestock Income
Corn Acres
831
230,261
$146,881,000
$13,364,000
14,165
Hogs
22,200
Wheat Acres
Ohio
3,500,000
132,800
3,800
Cattle
75,462
13,960,604
$6,597,946,000
$3,466,139,000
85,000
Soybean Acres
If you ate today, thank a farmer
We take our food for granted, but we can thank
area farmers for providing us the harvest. You’ll
see plenty of beef, hogs and other animals which
give us the food we need. And you’ll learn about
horses and cows and the important part they play
in our lives.
4,740,000
480,000
2,058,503
1,240,000
Statistics from the 2012 Census of Agriculture
Statistics from the 2015 National Agricultural Statistics Service
2016 Hancock County
Farm Tour Stops Map
MAP KEY
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The University of Findlay
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D & M Farms LLC
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Horn Farms
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The University of Findlay
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Good News Grass & Cattle
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Fruth’s Sugar House
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VanSant Farms
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Spahr Dairy Farm
Animal Science Center
14700 State Route 68 Findlay, Ohio 45840
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Jersey Cattle
12837 Township Road 168 Findlay, Ohio 45840
Crop and Livestock
15234 State Route 37 Arlington, Ohio 45814
Rieck Center for Habitat Studies
17311 Township Road 166 Arlington Ohio, 45814
Beef Cattle
21649 County Road 26 Carey, Ohio 43316
Sugar Camp and Greenhouse
19900 County Road 169 Vanlue, Ohio 45890
Grain and Livestock
17569 County Road 173 Findlay, Ohio 45840
Milking Cows
9898 Township Road 234 Findlay, Ohio 45840
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Historic Barn Locations
Available Restrooms
Vanlue Community Park
412 Crawford Street Vanlue, Ohio 45890
Riverbend Park
16618 Township Road 208 Findlay, Ohio 45840
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We recommend to go in the order listed above but it is not mandatory.
Sponsors
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Good News Grass & Cattle
Beef Cattle
Agri-Business
Boes Brothers Inc.
Findlay Publishing Company
Good News Grass & Cattle (GNGC) is in its tenth
year of operation. GNGC strives to raise cattle in
a holistic manner featuring cattle fed grass free
of hormones and antibiotics, managed grazing
and two farm locations. Muckybottom Farm is
a fourth generation farmstead established by
Skylar and Rosa Pressler during the 1920s.
Horn Farms
Crop and Livestock
Hancock Wood-Electric
Legacy Farmers Cooperative
D & M Farms LLC is a cattle finishing farm
specializing in raising Jersey heifers from one to
three days old to breeding age.
At Horn Farms, many crops are grown including
corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. They also conduct a farrow to finish hog operation with an
emphasis on show pig production. Along with
hogs, Horn’s have a cow/calf operation with an
emphasis on raising show cattle. When visiting
Horn Farms one will get to enjoy their beautiful
historic barn which is still in use.
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Fruth’s Sugar House, Greenhouse & Floral
Sugar Camp and Greenhouse
Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Citizens National Bank
Fruth’s sugar camp produces pure Ohio maple
syrup in March which can be bought on site,
at farmer’s markets, the Ohio State Fair and
county fairs. Their seasonal greenhouse is open
from April through July producing vegetables
and bedding plants, hanging baskets, and
perennials.
VanSant Farms
Grain and Livestock
Hancock Farm Bureau
Ohio Soybean Council
OSU Extension Service
VanSant Farms was established in 1877 when Solon
VanSant purchased 57 acres which he used to farm
grain and raise dairy and swine. 139 years later Mark
and Steven Ruggles (5th and 6th generations) are
continuing that tradition of farming grain and raising
livestock. Over the years both the family and farm have
grown and continue to preserve the family heritage.
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Sponsors
Sponsors
Ag Credit
Streackers Tractor & Supply
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The Rieck Center for Habitat Studies
The University of Findlay
Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District
The University of Findlay
This 55-acre nature preserve owned by the University of Findlay provides hands-on experiences
in ecology, botany, and conservation biology to
students and the community. Friends of the Rieck
Center, a volunteer organization, offers community events including an open house with guest
speakers and a youth fishing derby. Recently a
wetland complex was developed in the Blanchard
River floodplain to help retain floodwater and to
take up excess nutrients from the river.
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Sponsors
The University of Findlay has one of the top animal science degree programs featuring two top
equestrian studies programs. Students manage
a variety of animals on a daily basis under the
supervision of a barn manager and certified
veterinarian at our 31,000 square-foot Dr. C.
Richard Beckett Animal Science Building.
D & M Farms LLC
Jersey Cattle
Sponsors
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Blanchard River Watershed Partnership
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Sponsors
The Animal Science Center
The University of Findlay
Sponsors
Sponsors
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Spahr Dairy Farm
Milking Cows
Findlay Implement Co.
First Federal Bank
Kalmbach Feeds
Spahr Dairy Farm is a family farm with the 6th generation living
on the farm. They farm 1200 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and
alfalfa. In 1984, the Spahrs expanded their registered Jersey herd,
and now milk up to 400. One will see a modern dairy operation,
including computerized records, feeder wagon and baby calves.
One will be fascinated to learn how your milk gets from the cow
to the grocery.