Agriculture & Natural Resources

The basic mission of the Agriculture and Natural Resources program in Highland County is to provide research based answers to clientele needs through a variety of educational programming.  Direction for these education programs is driven by input from advisory committees and clientele.

The agricultural industry in Highland County is diverse in nature.  The top five commodities produced in Highland County ranked by cash receipts are:  1st - Soybeans; 2nd - Corn; 3rd - Tobacco; 4th - Beef; and 5th - Dairy.  Agricultural production in 2000 generated over $42 million in sales for Highland County farms.

In 2001, there were 1,370 farms in Highland County with an average size of 180 acres per farm.  There are 246,000 acres in farms in the county.

Family & Consumer Sciences

The Family & Consumer Sciences Educator responds to problems currently facing Highland County families by developing a variety of innovative and effective programs.

The Family & Consumer Sciences Educator provides educational programming to Highland County Families in the following areas:

• Reflecting the needs and concerns of today's families as they live in and deal with a fast-changing world.
• Dealing with the many areas of home and family life -- food, nutrition and health; family resource management; money management; textiles and clothing; housing and leadership development.
• Helping family members to manage their resources -- time, energy and money and to deal with the challenges of today's complex family life.
• Providing vital information to people of all walks of life and income from the very young to the very old, from rural farm areas to our towns and communities.
• Tailoring research-based information to fit the needs of the individual, family or group.

4-H Youth Development

• Involves over 1100 county youth in 58 4-H clubs led by 236 adult volunteers.
• We offer over 200 different 4-H projects.
• Our 4-H clubs are spread throughout the county and we can help you find one in your area! 

Community Development

The Highland County Community Development Educator assists the county to become the "best it can be" through the following program areas:

• Providing leadership development through a variety of programs to local organizations and individuals including:  Myers-Briggs personality type indicator which helps build better teams within organizations, along with people understanding themselves better.
• Implementing the Retention and expansion program in the county to investigate local factors influencing industrial development through support of businesses and industries already in the county.  Assistance has also been provided for small business development and work with individuals on supplemental income possibilities.
• Working directly with land use, zoning and waste management problems across the county.
• Developing tourism to make it a viable avenue for Highland County to grow economically.

If you have questions or would like more information on these or any of our educational programs, please contact the Extension office or e-mail us at: high@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu.