OhioPLANT held its annual meeting before the Christmas holiday and had a good member turnout with great speakers.  Members heard from Don Sutton, OhioPLANT’s chairman, about the association’s victories in 2023, what we can expect in 2024, and membership growth.

The first speaker was State Representative Rodney Creech, the House Agriculture Committee chairman, who spoke about finding his love of agronomy and turf science while in college, being the owner of a lawn care company, and what it is like to be a representative and chairman of the Agriculture Committee.  Rep. Creech also gave insight into the House’s agenda for 2024.

OhioPLANT was further honored to have Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge speak about his first several months as director, the challenges he and his agency have faced, and his vision for ODA.

The fourth speaker for the meeting was Dan Kenny, Chief of ODA’s Division of Plant Health.  It is always great to have Dan present as he is a wealth of knowledge.  Dan updated members on the Box Tree Moth quarantine in southwest Ohio and other issues impacting lawn, garden, and turf.

The final speaker was Scott Shearer, PhD, OSU Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering professor and chair, who presented on the latest in the field of artificial intelligence.  The information Dr. Shearer presented about AI’s use in agriculture and related industries and the future it holds was astonishing.

OhioPLANT’s lobbyist, Tony Seegers, wrapped up the day with a legislative update.