September 2008 eNewsletter

Welcome to OurOhio.org 

Oh Give Me A Home...
Steve Slifko has a home where the buffalo roam. Two hundred and fifty buffalo, also known as North American Bison, if you’re counting. It’s a childhood fascination that began as a hobby and over the past eight years evolved into Red Run Bison and Horse Farm.

This all took place at the hands of a guy who admits to not knowing the difference between straw and hay when he launched this venture.

For 35 years, Slifko owned Slifko Construction Company and built hundreds of custom homes and apartments throughout the Akron area. He planned to retire young and move onto something new – although he wasn’t sure what that would be. When a National Geographic program about bison caught his attention, it also captured his heart and became his focus. With the support of his wife, Sylvia, Slifko immersed himself in self-study about the species and received guidance from the National Bison Association on how to raise bison, which were hunted to near extinction during the early 20th century. Today bison are finding favor among cooks and health conscious consumers for their nutritional value, taste and lean qualities.

To learn more about bison farming and why customer demand for bison meat has been steadily increasing, click here.

Fall Events

Bob Evans Farm Festival - Oct. 10-12
The weekend of fun weaves yesteryear throughout with old farm contests like the cow chip toss!  Or how about the hog call?  Youngsters will delight in the interactive barnyard, hay bale maze, horseback and wagon rides. Enjoy seeing blacksmiths at work, leatherworking, potters at their wheels, weavers and quilters. Top-notch entertainment includes tractor square dancing, timber shows, sheep shearing, horseshoe pitching and Equine-mounted drill teams. Ohio Farm Bureau’s Growing a Masterpiece “A Tip of the Hat to Ohio Agriculture” exhibit of 88 uniquely designed cowboy hats will be on display, and Gallia County Farm Bureau will have a booth there to help with the hats and sell their collectible Cat's Meow barns. Check Bob Evans’ ad in the September/October Our Ohio magazine for a coupon for a free food platter at the Bob Evans food tent at the festival.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Location: 791 Farmview Dr. Bidwell
Contact Phone #: (800) 994-3276
http://www.bobevans.com

Circleville Pumpkin Show - Oct. 15-18
As one can imagine, the show celebrates all things pumpkin — from the expected, such as pumpkin pies and donuts, to the unexpected such as pumpkin burgers, pumpkin soup and pumpkin waffles. When you visit the Pumpkin Show, stop by the Pickaway County Visitors Pavilion presented by the Pickaway County Farm Bureau for daily entertainment and cooking demonstrations. Ohio Farm Bureau members who come to the pavilion to renew their membership for next year will receive a free gift. Also on display will be the “Tip of the Hat to Ohio Agriculture” collection.  Learn about last year's record breaking winners at the Pumpkin Show by clicking here. 
Hours: Wed. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thurs. thru Sat. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: 159 E. Franklin St. Circleville
Contact Phone #: (888) 770-7425
http://www.pumpkinshow.com

If you can't make it to either of these events, you still have the opportunity to view and place a vote for your favorite County hat online.  Click here to vote now.

Fall Hayrides and Corn Mazes
Search the Buying Local Directory to find the hayride and corn maze in your area.  Click here and select hayrides or maze on the product drop-down menu.  Also, to see a list of all fall events click here.

Family Tree

As children, in the hills and hollows of Peace Valley Orchard, the Simmons siblings didn’t realize they already had it all figured out.

Dan (Dano) and his brother Paul hoed their small patch of pumpkins and gourds on the rolling Columbiana County apple farm in the Appalachian foothills. They hauled their harvest to the family’s market with a little red wagon and a lawn tractor.

“I would come over every evening after school and I sold them,” remembered their sister Carol (Simmons) Day, sitting at the kitchen table of the family farmhouse nearly four decades later.

Today, just outside her front door, is the same small market, which she now operates. A bakery case extends along the wall (Carol won the Betty Crocker award in high school). Near a cash register, the wood grain of a laminate countertop has been rubbed white from past seasons’ sales. Dan points to its solid oak replacements protected by a thick skin of varnish.

“I built those,” he said. “I used to enjoy woodworking when I had time for it.”

He’s now overseeing the packing facility, which handles the tens of thousands of bushels of apples and peaches the farm produces. His older brother Paul, the first to come back to the farm after college, got the responsibility for the trees.  Click here to read the entire story of how these siblings have formed strong bonds through life on their apple farm.

Apples are a favorite fruit of many people for eating out of hand or in fresh salads. The fruit of many apple varieties are also excellent for making a wide variety of cooked products. Click here for a list of apples best suited to particular uses.

Plant Today, Enjoy Tomorrow

There’s a canoe paddle decorating the entrance to a barn at Big Tree Plantation near Morrow in Warren County. And painted on that paddle are these words:

The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago.

The next best time to plant a tree is today.

Imagine the cool, lazy Saturday afternoons you’d have in your hammock if you’d just planted a tree at the best time – several years ago. Now think of the great fun you’ll have in several more years after you choose and plant a few trees in your yard this fall.

Click here for tips on when to plant and how to select the perfect tree for your yard.

September Recipe Highlight

Buffalo Chicken Dip

3     12.5-ounce cans chicken
8     ounces cream cheese
1     cup Red Hot
1     cup ranch dressing
1     cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Mix all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low until hot, stirring occasionally. Serve with chips of choice and celery sticks.

Click here for other easy appetizer suggestions.
 

Baby Love...Or Not?

Expecting a baby can be a hectic and exciting time with so many things to do before the baby’s arrival. But not everybody may share your joy – especially the family pet. After all, the dog or cat was the first “baby” and may not adapt well to a new addition to the household.

“I’ve seen lots of dogs bond quickly with a baby. But that doesn’t always happen, and you need to prepare your pet before the baby even comes home,” said Amy Flannigan, a Columbus dog trainer and owner of Civil Obedience Dog Training.

Bringing a baby into a household can stress out a dog or cat because the amount of time and attention it is used to getting is often shifted to the new baby. That can cause the pet to act up or even become depressed, Flannigan said.

Click here for tips on preparing your pet for a new baby.