OSU South Centers welcomed students from Notre Dame High School (Portsmouth, Ohio) and Unioto Local School District (Chillicothe, Ohio) at the spring YCLE program. Students learned about agricultural research conducted at the campus, experienced hands-on learning in agricultural science by cross-pollinating peas, extracting DNA from strawberries, and conducting a soil test.
Students learned about career pathways from various cooperative business leaders and participated in a Co-op Career Fair. Cooperatives included: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), United Producers, Inc. (UPI), Adams Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., Atomic Credit Union, and Farm Credit Mid-America. Students learned about career opportunities at each cooperative. Representatives from Ohio State shared information about education pathways in agriculture at OSU ATI and summer employment opportunities for students at OSU South Centers.
YCLE is designed to help students learn about agricultural careers and achievable paths to higher education with an emphasis on the cooperative business model because of the important role cooperatives play in the agricultural supply chain. The program is supported with generous funding from the Southern Ohio Agricultural & Community Development Foundation.
The next YCLE at OSU South Centers is on Friday, October 3, 2025. If you are a teacher in southern Ohio, contact Melissa Whitt at whitt.168@osu.edu for more information about engaging your students in the Youth Cooperative Leadership Experience.