Buckeye Bus 2018: Northeast Ohio
On August 9 and 10, the Office of Student Life’s Buckeye Bus joined President Drake on his Ohio State Tour in Northeast Ohio. From delicious food and new friends to alumni engagement and community service, our final trip of the summer was full of fun!
First Stop: Richland County Fair
We spent our morning at the fair learning about the value 4-H brings to communities around Ohio, including in Richland County. Extraordinary students from around the county shared their experiences with the program. Did you know that 4-H was founded right here in the Buckeye State?
We were also lucky to meet a few soon-to-be Buckeyes, including one who will start her first semester at Ohio State when she moves into her residence hall this week!
Next Up: Visiting the J.M. Smucker Company
It’s easy to forget that Ohio is full of extraordinary, innovative businesses — but we were reminded of that fact when we headed to Smucker’s HQ in Orville, Ohio. We met dozens of Ohio State alumni, plus lots of current students who have spent their summers interning with the company, and got a tour of the offices. We also enjoyed some Smucker’s treats while we were there!
I Scream, You Scream…
We all scream for ice cream! At our next stop, Katie’s Korner in Kent, Ohio, we were treated to amazing homemade ice cream. We even got to enjoy a special flavor made just for us — Buckeye Fever.
Closing out Day One with Bingo Before Dinner
Our final stop of the day before we headed out to dinner was for a game of bingo with the residents of Parker Place Retirement Community.
We made new friends, gave out lots of prizes and watched Brutus and friends bring smiles to the faces of the extraordinary Buckeyes living at Parker Place.
Then, we headed off to Farmer Butcher Chef for a seriously delicious dinner and a tour of the historic property where the restaurant is situated.
Needless to say, by the end of day one of this trip, we were all full — not just of Ohio-grown food, but of wonderful new memories, too!
Day Two: This Place is Ashta-beautiful!
We kicked off the second day of the trip with a visit to the Nature Conservancy in beautiful Ashtabula County. We heard from representatives of Ohio State Extension, the Nature Conservancy and elected officials from the area, learning all about how research and innovation in sustainability are making a positive impact across Ohio and the nation.
Six Generations, One Family Farm
Patterson’s Fruit Farm in Madison, Ohio is truly extraordinary. From stunning landscapes to yummy fruit, the Patterson family has built an amazing experience over six generations of hard work. We were welcomed to the farm with amazing food and the family’s generous spirit, and we loved every second of our time there.
When you have the chance, be sure to stop by Patterson’s and pick up some local produce and fresh-baked donuts — and enjoy the view while you’re at it!
Last Stop: Ridge Manor Nurseries
Innovation in agriculture is happening every day right here in our home state. At Ridge Manor nurseries, we discovered how collaboration between Ohio State Extension, local agriculture and elected officials can make incredible things possible. Our tour included a lesson on how technology is changing the agriculture industry for the better.
That’s a Wrap!
Thanks for following along as we explored communities around Ohio, learned what they all have to offer and discovered how The Ohio State University impacts them every day.
See you next summer, #BuckeyeBus!
