For Jan Layman, farming has been a way of life ever since he can remember. He is the owner of Layman Farms, located southwest of Kenton on Township Road 119.

COLUMBUS — For 20 years, the Leeds Farm in Delaware County has opened its gates to thousands of visitors on autumn weekends for hayrides, zip lines, pig races, and other activities including a petting zoo with goats and a mother-daughter pair of donkeys.

ADA BARNYARD FARMERS Sunday June 12 at 1:35 p.m., Ada Barnyard Farmers held a barnyard trip.

For the time period of May 1-May 31, Extension rainfall reporters recorded an average of 3.27 inches of rain in Hardin County. Last year, the average rainfall for the same time period was 3.70 inches. Rainfall for May 1-May 31, 2016 is 0.62 inches less than the 10-year average rainfall during the same dates.

The delayed planting this spring has allowed many weeds to survive longer and get larger compared to other growing seasons. Some fields have or did have weeds with striking yellow flowers.

The Dairy Beef Feeder queen contest in open to all girls 14 years and older (as of Jan. 1), that are currently enrolled in 4-H or FFA with a dairy beef (feeder or steer) project. To be eligible to compete for this honor, a member must fill out the application, complete the essay and participate in an interview.

COLUMBUS – Warmer temperatures and drying fields means more farmers are out taking advantage of the mild weather to catch up on planting after delays earlier during the season kept many out of their fields. But those growers who still aren’t able to get their soybean crops in before June may need to make slight adjustments to their management plans, says a field crops expert in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.

The Ridgemont FFA had 60 members attend the Ohio State FFA convention earlier this month. The members had a very successful experience, including the chapter’s achievements in the chapter, student and community development divisions.

Before Food For America on May 13, we spent four weeks in our Agribusiness Class, writing lesson plans and preparing to teach our lessons to third and fourth grade students at Hardin Northern. We thought out every step of our activity so that it would go smoothly and the elementary students would enjoy it, too.

The Hardin Northern FFA team of Samuel Diller, Ashton Stevenson, David Allen and Grace King competed in the recent State Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Event.