Cultivating Convos: An ODA Podcast

ODA is recognizing National Invasive Insect Awareness Week and Bird Health Awareness week in this mashup episode of Cultivating Convos. Our plant and animal health experts share educational information about the invasive insects that pose a threat to Ohio's vegetation and the importance of being prepared for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

We love celebrating FFA, and this week we have the best guest to tell us all about the phenomenal organization. Laura Wuebker, State FFA Officer, joins us to share her journey with FFA, what the student organization means to her, and where she plans to take her toolbox of skills she learned throughout her time being involved. Join us in celebrating National FFA week this week, and visit https://oh...

This week on Cultivating Convos, we are celebrating another national day with the Ohio Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program Winner! Cameron Parks and his mom Shannon tell us how he grew an enormous cabbage to win a $1000 scholarship for college. “I really enjoyed growing this cabbage. My parents helped me plant it in our front yard in a mulch bed. I was worried about the deer eating the cabbage...

Grab your valentine because February 14 is National Ferris Wheel Day! Today we talk to Michael Wood, owner of the largest portable Ferris wheel in the USA. Michael tells us what goes into running America's largest portable Ferris wheel and how families across the nation enjoy making memories while aboard. Also joining us is Jon Kaufman, ODA ride inspector, who has the important job of ensuring amu...

Our friends from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) join us on this week's episode of Cultivating Convos to talk about their H2Ohio efforts! An exciting grant opportunity is opening soon in the Ohio River Basin to continue important water quality work through the creation and restoration of wetlands. An informational webinar is scheduled for February 28 to learn all about this opportu...

The office of Farmland Preservation hit a huge milestone by preserving 100,000 acres of Ohio farmland! This week on Cultivating Convos, we celebrate with ODA's very own Amanda Bennett who is part of the small, but mighty, Farmland Preservation team. We also welcome a Fayette county farmer who's land helped push the program to the exciting milestone. 

This week's episode is all about water quality. We talk with an ODA H2Ohio team leader, and with a H2Ohio Putnam county farmer who plays many roles in the conservation and water quality world. Launched by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019, H2Ohio is a comprehensive water quality initiative that is working to strategically address serious water issues that have been building in Ohio for decades. Today,...

It's a new year, but an old pest is still sticking around Ohio. The Gypsy Moth is an invasive bug that ODA is working to stop from damaging trees across the state. This week on Cultivating Convos, we speak with two of our plant health experts about what ODA is doing to fight this pest!

This week is the annual Ohio Fair Managers Association Meeting in Columbus! We chat with the OFMA 1st Vice President and the chief of the Division of Amusement Ride Safety and Fairs about what to expect for the upcoming season.

This week, the Chief of the Division of Weights and measures joins us to explain how to guarantee that your scale isn't lying if losing weight is one of your New Year's resolutions. 

We are getting into the holiday spirit this week on Cultivating Convos! We chat with ODA veterinarians about how they help get Santa's reindeer ready to fly!

Winter is nearly here, so we dive in on this week's episode of Cultivating Convos to talk about how you can preserve the gardens you worked hard on all year! From plant health, to maintaining your gardening tools, we learn what to do to make sure your garden is protected and ready for planting next spring. 

Not finished with your holiday shopping list? Don't know where to start? Well, we've got you covered! This week on Cultivating Convos, we sit down with Matt MacLaren , the Director of TourismOhio, and Duncan Forbes, one of the owners of North Country Charcuterie , to chat about all the fantastic local gifts you can go out and grab just in time for the holidays!

This week on Cultivating Convos, we step into Christmas with the details on Operation Evergreen, an annual event that takes place on ODA's campus. An amazing effort organized by the Ohio Christmas Tree Growers Association, Operation Evergreen sends Ohio Christmas trees overseas to US troops serving our country. Dan Kenny, ODA Chief of Plant Health, and Amy from Galehouse Tree Farm join us to expla...

This week we sit down with ODA Director Dorothy Pelanda to talk about her family Thanksgiving traditions, and we learn a few tips and tricks to cook the perfect turkey!

This week on Cultivating Convos, we talk with ODA Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory experts about World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. Tune in to find out what it is and why it's important. 

It’s the holiday season! Gather ‘round to start the holidays with this week’s episode of Cultivating Convos. We dive in with Ohio Poultry Association Executive Vice President, Jim Chakeres, and Ohio turkey producer, Drew Bowman, about the prized Thanksgiving staple – turkey! Listen to learn how Ohio producers put food on our tables not only during our favorite holiday season, but all year long. Vi...

Boo! Unwrap your favorite piece (or more) of candy and learn about the scariest haunts across Ohio. We chat with Chief of Tourism Ohio Matt MacLaren and one of the state’s paranormal investigators, Greg Feketik about the spookiest places to visit in the state and what’s been documented. Happy Halloween!

ODA's Division of Enforcement is charged with conducting both administrative and criminal investigations for all regulatory divisions of ODA. On this week's episode of Cultivating Convos, we sit down with Enforcement Division Chief, Dave Hunt, to talk about dog fighting, dangerous wild animals, and the effects of the 2011 Zanesville incident. 

Ten years ago, more than 50 dangerous wild animals were set free from a property in Zanesville. That incident inspired legislation that ensured public and animal safety and created a program overseen by ODA. Listen in to this week’s Cultivating Convos episode as ODA’s Interim State Veterinarian and a Field Veterinarian reflect on the history and evolution of the Dangerous Wild Animal Program. http...

On Cultivating Convos this week, we dive into one of our favorite topics - cheese! We sit down with John Reese of Black Radish Creamery , and Brian Wise, ODA Chief of Dairy Division, to talk about artisan cheese making, the upcoming annual Dairy Quality Conference, and how ODA plays a roll in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everything from dairy cows, to the dairy products you buy in the loca...

This week on Cultivating Convos, we dive into an important topic - grazing management! Listen to an ODA grazing expert, and a Perry county farmer tell us what grazing management is and why it is an important piece to a sustainable farm.  To watch ODA's Grazing Management Minute videos, check out our YouTube!

This week on Cultivating Convos we talk about another very important topic - water quality! We chat with H2Ohio program manager and a Northwest Ohio producer to learn about what farmers are doing to improve water quality and how the H2Ohio initiative is growing. To learn more about H2Ohio, visit the H2Ohio website . 

This week on Cultivating Convos, we sit down with Ashely McDonald, Ohio Proud Program Manager, and Adam Ward, Director of Government Affairs at The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences to talk about the 2021 Farm Science Review! Take a listen and get out to FSR September 21 through 23!

This week on Cultivating Convos, we talk about the invasive Spotted Lanternfly, which has been reported in northeast Ohio. Dan Kenny, Chief of ODA's Plant Health Division, and Tony Kosicek, Owner of Kosicek Vineyards, sit down with us to talk about this invasive pest, and what to do if encountered. If you suspect a spotted lanternfly infestation, at any life stage, please report the finding to the...