Agriculture is vital to the State of Ohio and is the number one industry contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy and for that reason, representatives from across the nation and the State of Ohio met with Central State University and The Ohio State University to discuss issues affecting farming and agriculture in Ohio.
The Ag Roundtable took place on Friday, December 10, 2021, at The Ohio State University and featured representatives from the US Department of Agriculture, the State of Ohio, and agri-business leaders from throughout the State.
Michelle Corley, Ph.D. and Dean of the Central State University College of Engineering, Science, Technology & Agriculture (CESTA)/Director 1890 Land Grant Programs, along with Cathann A. Kress, Ph.D., Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University (event host); shared their thoughts on a variety of agricultural related issues with Thomas J. Vilsack United States Secretary of Agriculture, Ohio Senator Sherod Brown, and Chief Terry Cosby, Chief Officer for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Chief Cosby previously served as the NRCS State Conservationist in Ohio for 16 years.
As a part of the roundtable, Dean Corley shared Central State University’s plans for serving underserved populations and communities in Agriculture in Ohio. Dean Corley discussed the CSU State mandated Centers (International Center for Water Resource Management and Emerging Technologies), participation in the 1890 Centers of Excellence Programs, and most importantly the need for sustainability for underserved minority students in AGRISTEM fields.
“This Ag Roundtable provided a much-needed forum to discuss with our US Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Senator Brown, and Chief Cosby, the critical issues facing the agriculture industry in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and existing climate change vulnerabilities particularly our underserved stakeholders such as underrepresented minority students, small businesses, small black, women, and veteran ranchers, forest landowners, and farmers,” says Dean Corley.
According to Dean Corley, Central State University as an 1890 Land-Grant institution, through CESTA, and with continued USDA initiatives designed to support underserved Agriculture communities in Ohio, is poised to help meet the needs and prepare our stakeholders for cutting edge 21st Century Smart Agriculture technologies.
Dean Corley stated that the event brought to the forefront the opportunity for the two Land Grant Universities in the State of Ohio to strengthen strategic partnerships that are in line with both of our University strategic goals and outcomes. “I look forward to hosting Secretary Vilsack, Senator Brown and Chief Cosby at Central State University for an Agriculture Stakeholders Follow Up Session,” adds Dean Corley.
For more information about CESTA/1890 Land-Grant Programs at Central State University visit Centralstate.edu or at facebook.com/collegeofengineeringsciencetechnologyagriculture
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Photo 1: Dr. Michelle Corley addresses US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Chief Cosby at Ag Roundtable
Photo 2: Dr. Michelle Corley, Central State University Dean, CESTA/Director 1890 Land-Grant Programs speaks to US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack regarding CSU’s Land-Grant’s future plans for our underserved and underrepresented populations and communities in Agriculture in Ohio.
Photo 3: Dr. Michelle Corley, Central State University Dean, CESTA/Director 1890 Land-Grant Programs speaks to Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown about CSU Land-Grant’s future plans for our underserved and underrepresented populations and communities in Agriculture in Ohio.
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CESTA/1890 Land-Grant Programs at CSU
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