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March 27, 2025 The Beacon • 15
Agriculture’ s role celebrated at annual ag day luncheon
By Josie Sellers Beacon Editor
The role agriculture plays in the community, economy and daily life was celebrated during the annual ag day luncheon on March 18 at Lake Park Pavilion.
“ It’ s more than just an industry,” said Brett Kinzel, agriculture and natural resources educator for the Coshocton County OSU Extension.“ It’ s a way of life and the backbone of our nation.”
After having a lunch catered by Schumaker Farms, attendees were updated on a project going on at Gerber and Sons Inc. in Baltic.
Josie Sellers
After having a lunch catered by Schumaker Farms, ag day luncheon attendees were updated on a project going on at Gerber and Sons Inc. in Baltic.
Gerber and Sons Inc. is a business that offers bulk feed and bag feed. It was founded in 1905 by Seth Gerber’ s family and serves a 100-mile radius around the Baltic area.
In 2012 company officials started discussing building a new facility. Ground for that new feed mill in Baltic was finally broken in August 2022, and it is scheduled to be operational this May.
“ We have a strong believe in agriculture and a strong believe in this community,” said Gerber, the company’ s CEO and president.“ We want to be viable for another 100 years.” Travis Hahn, operations manager at Gerber and Sons
Inc., said the new facility will serve customers even better than they do today.
“ We will have an open house closer to our opening, but we want to be the best, most efficient mill in the state of Ohio,” Hahn said.“ It will be state of the art as we move toward automation and AI. Brighter days are ahead of us.” Kinzel wrapped up the luncheon by thanking everyone involved in agriculture for their dedication and passion.
The annual luncheon was sponsored by Farm Credit Mid-America, the Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Ohio State University Extension Office.
HEAP applications from older Ohioans due by May 31
The Ohio Department of Development and the Area Agency on Aging Region 9 want to remind older Ohioans assistance is available to help with home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program helps Ohioans at or below 175 % of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to seven members and 60 % of State Median Income for a household of eight or more members to pay their heating bills.
Applied directly to the customer’ s utility or bulk fuel bill, the benefit can help manage heating costs. Older Ohioans may go to their local Area Agency on Aging office for help with assembling the required documents and completing their HEAP application. They also may visit www. energyhelp. ohio. gov to apply online or to download a copy of the application.
When applying, individuals need to have copies of the following documents:
— Most recent utility bills.
— A list of all household members including birth dates and Social Security numbers.
— Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members( 12 months for certain income types).
— Proof of U. S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
— Proof of disability if applicable.
HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’ s energy bill after Jan. 1. Applications for the HEAP program must be received by Saturday, May 31.
For more information or assistance with applying for a HEAP benefit, call
File
The Ohio Department of Development and the Area Agency on Aging Region 9 want to remind older Ohioans assistance is available to help with home energy bills.
Send us your news jsellers @ alonovus. com the Area Agency on Aging Region 9 at 800-945-4250.
To be connected to your local energy-assistance provider, call 800-282-0880( hearing-impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) or visit www. energyhelp. ohio. gov.
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