Ohio State University Extension - Hardin County

05/28/2026

Summer Fitness starts.om Tuesday, June 2! Join us & bring a friend!

05/26/2026

Join OSU Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences for free food preservation webinars this summer!

Join us for this summer's Home Food Preservation webinar series, "Let's Preserve It!"
Tuesdays 12-12:30 p.m.
June 9: Methods of Preserving
June 23: Water Bath Canning Basics
July 7: Pressure Canning Basics
July 21: Freezing Basics
July 28: Drying Basics
Aug. 11: Making and Preserving Juice

Webinars are free, register required go.osu.edu/fpwebinars

05/26/2026

Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN) invites all Ohio students ages 5-18 to participate in the Ohio Farmers Market Network National Farmers Market Week Design Contest. The winning design will be revealed during the National Farmers Market Week celebration. All participants are invited to join the celebration!

The student with the winning design will receive a $500 scholarship. Their design will be unveiled during the National Farmers Market Week celebration event, and will be printed on reusable canvas bags, shirts and posters that will be available for purchase. Two runners-up will also be showcased at the kick-off celebration.

Students’ designs should reflect this year’s theme, “250 Ways to Love, Support and Participate in Ohio’s Farmers Markets.” Participants are asked to include imagery inspired by farmers markets, farms and corresponding regional market goods, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc. We also encourage students to illustrate the spirit of Ohio and this year’s America 250 celebration. All entries must include “2026” and “Ohio Farmers Market Network.”

To learn more about the contest and how to submit entries, go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fBnI42pECePNFSPn5Fj4YKewV4nNYhrc/view

05/22/2026

Our office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25.

A voicemail can be left for any staff member by calling 419-674-2297 and following the prompts. Normal office hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26 from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Enjoy the long weekend and stay safe!

05/21/2026

An Evening Garden Affair, a program hosted by Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardeners, will be held Tuesday, June 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Friendship Gardens, 960 W. Kohler St. in Kenton.

Join us to learn about the importance of native plants from guest speaker Chad Carrell of The Native Pathways Nursery and Hancock Park District.

6:00-6:45 p.m. - registration, Friendship Gardens tour, refreshments at the Friendship Gardens

6:45-7:00 p.m. - transition to Simon Kenton School

7:00-8:00 p.m. - formal program at Simon Kenton School

Please note that overflow parking will be at the Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District parking lot located at 950 W. Kohler St. Simon Kenton School building has a fan but no air conditioning, so please dress accordingly.

For more information about the Master Gardener Volunteer program and our events, visit go.osu.edu/hardinanrprograms

05/20/2026

The Hardin County OSU Extension Master Gardeners will kick off their summer workshop series on Tuesday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Friendship Gardens, located at 960 W. Kohler St. in Kenton.

The first topic in the series will focus on oak trees and will feature a celebration of America's 250th birthday. The program will feature a dedication of the oak trees planted in the garden and talks will be given by the Division of Forestry and the Master Gardener Volunteer program.

Refreshments will also be provided.

The other workshops in this series will be held on on July 21 on Native Plants and August 18 on Companion Planting, at 6:00 p.m. at the Friendship Gardens.

Details about the Master Gardener Volunteer program and event details can be found by visiting go.osu.edu/hardinanr.

05/20/2026

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow, May 21, is the last day for 4-H and FFA market chicken exhibitors to place their orders for broiler chicks.

Order forms and money are due to the OSU Extension office by 4:00 p.m.

Details and forms can be found by clicking this link ---> https://hardin.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/2026-chick-sale

Please call the OSU Extension office at 419-674-2297 with any questions.

05/20/2026

Cold snaps in early May brought temperatures down to 27–30°F in parts of Ohio when some wheat fields were flowering. Freeze damage is extremely variable and challenging to assess but when scouting remember to:

🔍 Start in low spots
Cold air settles in low areas first, so damage often shows up there before higher ground.

🌾 Inspect wheat heads closely
Look for discolored heads, awns, or spikelets. Freeze injury can cause sterility, embryo death, or even complete spike loss.

📸 Use a hand lens if you can
Healthy flowering wheat will show white, feathery stigmas and yellow anthers. Abnormal color or collapsed structures may indicate injury.

📞 Before making decisions, call your crop insurance adjuster
If you suspect damage, get fields assessed before taking action.

For full details and photos, check out this week's CORN Newsletter
👉 https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2026-14/update-freeze-injury-winter-wheat

05/18/2026

Mark your calendars and join us for some evening group fitness!

05/16/2026

The Master Gardener Plant Sale begins at this morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Friendship Gardens, located at 960 W. Kohler St., Kenton.

We can't wait to see you!