<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px">Fellow Aquatic Culturists,</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px">With a new Director of Ag, Ms. Dorothy Pelanda, on board at ODA, now would be an opportune time to get her ear on aquaculture/aquaponics in Ohio. The OAA <span style="font-size:10pt">will be resubmitting the letter to the ODA regarding the aquaculture liaison employee soon (with all of the letters of support). </span><span style="font-size:10pt">On top of that, it would likely  benefit the aquaculture industry if there was </span><span style="font-size:10pt">AT LEAST one farm at most/all of these meetings below if possible.  </span></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols"><span style="font-size:13.3333px">Convey a message that aquaculture/aquaponics is the fastest growing sector of agriculture in the U.S. and Ohio, there are just over 200 aquaculture aquaponic farms in Ohio, and that our industry has needs, including a refilling of ODA's aquaculture coordinator we had previously, the need for private aquatic animal veterinary capability, and any other issue you deem important.  </span></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px">You can bet that the other agricultural industries will show up, tell their story and express their needs.  If at all possible, please attend the meeting closest to you.</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px">Bill Lynch </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px">OAA President</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><h1 style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:14px;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px" align="left"><b style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b><br></h1><p class="m_-6985185860780739469gmail-m_-8345183840181790262x_m_-3566588143844881592gd_p" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>ODA Office of Communications, (614) 752-9817, <a href="mailto:agrcommunications@agri.ohio.gov" id="m_-6985185860780739469gmail-m_-8345183840181790262LPlnk909300" class="m_-6985185860780739469gmail-m_-8345183840181790262OWAAutoLink" target="_blank">agrcommunications@agri.ohio.gov</a></b></p><p class="m_-6985185860780739469gmail-m_-8345183840181790262x_m_-3566588143844881592gd_p" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><h2 style="color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;margin:5px 0px 0px;padding:0px" align="center"><b>OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR DOROTHY PELANDA TO HOST MEET AND GREETS ACROSS OHIO</b></h2><h3 style="color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;font-size:14px;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;margin:3px 0px 0px;padding:0px" align="center"> </h3><p class="m_-6985185860780739469gmail-m_-8345183840181790262x_m_-3566588143844881592gd_p" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Feb. 6, 2019) – Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Dorothy Pelanda will host a series of informal meet and greet events across Ohio. The meetings will present the opportunity for Director Pelanda to introduce herself, share information regarding her background and listen to thoughts and ideas from members of Ohio’s food and agriculture industry.</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">The meet and greets will be hosted in conjunction with local soil and water conservation districts. The events are open to the public and members of the media are welcome to attend on the following dates:</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>February 11</b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">9:30 a.m. – Ross County Service Center, 475 Western Ave., Chillicothe, OH 45601</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">11:30 a.m. – Jackson County OSU Extension, 17 Standpipe Road, Jackson, OH 45640</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">2:30 p.m. – Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens, OH 45701</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>February 15</b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">10:00 a.m. – Wilmington College Kelly Center, 1870 Quaker Way, Wilmington, OH 45177</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">1:00 p.m. – Springview Government Center, 3130 East Main St., Springfield, OH 45505</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>February 22</b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">10:30 a.m. – Union County Ag Center – Buckeye Meeting Room, 18000 St. Rt. 4 N, Suite B, Marysville, OH 43040</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">2:00 p.m. – UVCC-Adult Technology Center, 8901 Looney Rd., Room 600, Piqua, OH 45356</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>March 1</b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">10:00 a.m. – Gottfried Nature Center, 9783 County Highway 330, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>March 4</b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">1:00 p.m. – Eaton First Church of God, 601 E. Lexington Rd., Eaton, OH 45320</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left">3:30 p.m. – Central Service Building, 220 W. Livingston St., Celina, OH 45822</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" align="left"><b>Additional meetings are scheduled and those dates and locations will be released once they become available</b>. Those with questions can contact the ODA Office of Communications at 614-752-9817.</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji",NotoColorEmoji,"Segoe UI Symbol","Android Emoji",EmojiSymbols;font-size:13.3333px"><br></p></div>
</div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><i><span style="color:rgb(118,165,175)"><span>Alycia Brehm<br></span></span></i></div><i><span style="color:rgb(118,165,175)"><span>OAA Program Assistant<br></span></span></i></div><i><span style="color:rgb(118,165,175)"><span>8120 Wesley Chapel Rd<br></span></span></i></div><i><span style="color:rgb(118,165,175)"><span>West Liberty, OH 43357<br>614-595-9308</span></span></i><br></div></div></div>