By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Agriculture in Wood County is more than corn, soybeans and wheat. It’s more than cattle and pigs. The Wood Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the recent 2026 Ag Venture to show the diversity of what falls under the agricultural umbrella in Wood County.
Each of the five stops on the self-driving tour provided a glimpse into the backbone of what makes Wood County agriculture a leading local and global economic driver.
The Historic Construction Equipment Association and Power of Yesteryear shared a look back at the early days. Some of the historic equipment that helped drain the Black Swamp and tractors that tilled those first fertile farm fields were displayed. They also hosted corn-shelling demonstrations, a kiddie pedal pull and a model train display by Golden Eagle & Freedom Valley Model Trains.
Luckey Farmers Sugar Ridge branch showed how the agricultural cooperative and agronomy branch supports local farmers and the agricultural community and beyond.
While not considered a direct agricultural industry, the Bowling Green Water Treatment Plant showed how it contributes to water quality in our region. Visitors learned how state-of-the-art science and processes provide safe drinking water.
Fox-Shank Living Laboratory
The Fox-Shank Living Laboratory is an environmental and ecological learning space, just east of Otsego schools in Tontogany.
Created by the Black Swamp Conservancy with funding from an H2Ohio grant, the 16 acres that are now overseen by the Otsego School District, showcased how managing drainage and restoring wetland areas is critical to the economics of agriculture and the revitalization of the ecosystem.
“I think it’s important to let the folks know, especially with the Wood County Ag Venture, where there are agricultural sites in the county,” said Melanie Coulter, Black Swamp Conservancy’s conservation manage. “At the Fox -Shank Living Laboratory, we have that example on a small scale of how we can have a little bit of agriculture in concert with natural wetlands that help clean up the runoff before it gets into our streams and rivers.”
She also is an advocate for letting the public see the work that the H2Ohio funds support.
“H2Ohio funds were reduced in last year’s budget,” she said. “I know as Gov. Mike DeWine is winding down his term, he really wants H2Ohio to continue. It’s important for voters to see what H2Ohio can do and events like Ag Venture help people understand how it’s a benefit for the communities.”
The property was identified as a potential project for the Black Swamp Conservancy to convert the acreage into a living and learning laboratory.
The conservancy worked with the H2Ohio Wetlands Program and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the project.
“From the beginning, we would do the work of getting the grant money (in 2021), doing the land acquisition and the restoration work and then we would gift it to the (Otsego) school district to be used as an outdoor classroom,” Coulter said.
Of the 16 acres, about 7 acres are devoted to wetland, some with shrubs, emergent wetland with cattails and often standing water, and forested wetland, with mature trees along the edges of a river.
Throughout the property, there are informational signs that explain some of the property’s highlights, including the wetlands, standing deadwood and an intact agricultural area with drainage
“The standing dead wood is something we try to do in all of our wetland restorations,” she said. “We purposely move in and plant dead logs and dead trees standing up because it instantly makes this brand-new wetland behave more like a mature wetland. We always put those in so that the wildlife have a jumpstart to come in and use the wetland.”
The Otsego FFA was on hand at Ag Venture. According to FFA Adviser Debbie Ayers, several members brought their animals for a small petting farm. The chapter also helped with a surprise stop on the tour, with a tribute to the America 250 farm tour. Sunflower seeds donated by Hirzel Farms were planted to spell out “250 USA” in the middle of the wetland restoration project.
At the farmstead of Stacey and Aaron Creps, home to Dusty Boots Equestrian Center and the family farm, a wide swath of agriculture was displayed. The Dusty Boots horses were a highlight as visitors had the chance to ride the horses or visit them up close in the stables.
There was also a farm wagon filled with corn, and several ag-adjacent businesses including YEDA, Clamps Inc. and DAC horse and pet vitamins and supplements.
Stacey Creps’ Dusty Boots was the connection to showcase a few agribusinesses beyond traditional farming. The Special Horseman Connection and YEDA participated at Stacey’s invitation.
The Special Horseman Connection fills a need in northwest Ohio to provide assistance for people with special needs to participate in equestrian classes, lessons and competitive shows.
For 10 years, YEDA (Youth Equestrian Development Association), has been an equestrian riding resource for young students in northwest Ohio.
YEDA is a team riding organization for fourth through 12th grade students and equestrians with disabilities.
According to Laura Smith, YEDA chief executive officer, “We give them an avenue to ride, take lessons, compete, show and earn scholarship dollars without the burden of owning a horse.”
The coaches and the teams, like Stacey Creps and Dusty Boots, provide the horses. “So we remove ‘who can buy the most expensive, best trained horse’ from it, and the kids all show in the uniform shirt, so we remove the show clothes from it,” Smith said. “It’s putting everyone on equal ground to start and truly judging the best rider.”
More than $3 million in scholarships have been provided in its 10-year history for students going on to compete at the college level. “So we’ve kind of bridged the gap between youth riding and collegiate riding. You don’t have to ride, but it definitely opens up a lot of avenues that some people didn’t even realize existed.”
Kelly Smith boards her horse at Dusty Boots, but she is also president and the fourth generation to lead Clamps Inc. Ag Venture gave her an opportunity to promote her Toledo-based company, which produces clamps of all kinds, including many clamps used in agriculture.
The company started when her great-grandfather made mufflers for semi-trucks and then moved into making tubing for mufflers and then clamps to hold the tubes on, she explained.
Today, the business also makes special parts for farming equipment.
“We make so many of these parts for the agricultural equipment. John Deere, International Harvester; they’re all big, big customers of ours. Komatsu. So, we are here showing what we contribute to agriculture.”
