Area farmers connect with youth to promote agriculture in the county

Staff photo by Richard O Jones Okeana farmer Alex Minges bred three calves that are in this year's Butler County Fair, including Ru, who is the project of Taylor Ruder who will be a senior at Talawanda High School.

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer Updated 10:36 PM Thursday, July 28, 2011

HAMILTON — Area agricultural associations are trying to keep farm culture alive by mentoring young people in the art of animal husbandry.

Their efforts have been visible this week in the “Born & Raised” shows for hogs, feeder calves, market beef and sheep, according to Cindy Meyer of the Ohio State University Extension Office, who coordinates the efforts between young farmers and the Butler County Cattlemen’s Association, the Butler County Pork Producers and the Butler County Lamb and Wool Association.

“The calves had to have been born and raised in Butler County to be eligible to show here,” said Okeana farmer Allen Minges who has three calves that he bred in this year’s fair. “We’re trying to encourage kids to use cattle that are from Butler County and also to promote the work of the 30 or so breeders here. If my cattle goes out and do well, it may bring more people in to buy calves from me.

“It also gives the kids an extra chance to show and provide some extra money with a $250 grand champion prize,” he said.

Last September, Taylor Ruder, who will be a senior at Talawanda High School, bought Ru, a 500-pound cross between a Maine anjou, a shorthorn and a simmental that she named after a character in the “Winnie the Pooh” stories.

Ruder has been showing cattle at the Butler County Fair since she was 9, she said.

“My uncle got me a steer and he always wanted me to have fun and do my best while promoting agriculture,” she said.

Since then, she has been caring for Ru, who now tips the scales at a beefy 1,215 pounds, on her Oxford farm and has shown him at Ohio Cattlemen Association shows, and Minges has been helping her out along the way.

“I’ll check in on them once a month to see how they’re doing, help them out and give some pointers,” he said.

The Butler County Fair, however, will be the end of the line for Ru, who earned a second place trophy for Ruder, because on Saturday, he will be auctioned off and sent to market.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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