Farmland Preservation, Land Use and Economic Development Activities in Northeast Ohio

AMP helped established a group of community leaders from the agricultural communities of Wayne, Holmes and Ashland Counties who serve as a sounding board and advisory council for improving agricultural opportunities in the area.  This group has grown to include twelve members and includes those from county government, farm organizations, financial and agricultural businesses as well as farmers. 

Major initiatives developed by the participants include a comprehensive survey in collaboration with OSU’s Agricultural Business Retention and Expansion Program of farmers in the area to assess their goals and plans for agriculture in the future and their needs to accomplish these goals, assessment of agricultural businesses and their capacity to serve the farm community, an innovative position with the Wayne Economic Development Council that leads and coordinates long-term programming and support for farmers and related businesses, conservation and land use planning, a county farmland policy audit, and a photography project entitled “The Seasonal Rhythms of Agriculture”, in which local 4H clubs documented the beauty of everyday life on Wayne County farms and combined the photography with classical music.

Contact Leah Miller, leah@smallfarminstitute.org  for more information.