COLUMBUS, Ohio — Dedication to agriculture in Ohio doesn’t go unnoticed in this state – the Ohio Agricultural Council announced last month that Dwight B. Beougher, James Buchy, Opal Holfinger and Virgil L. Strickler will be inducted into the 52nd annual Hall of Fame at the Ohio Expo Center on August 4.

The honor is bestowed to individuals who have committed their lives to working in, promoting and advocating for Ohio’s farm community. The four inductees will join 221 prior recipients named since the program began in 1966.

Beougher, of Westerville, put forth his efforts serving the U.S. feed industry and agriculture. His career in product sales began with 20 years at a major research and animal feed manufacturer, where he taught dealers and employees good manufacturing practices and animal husbandry.

He and his wife created a successful retail feed and farm supply business in central Ohio and were recognized nationally for their turnaround strategies. He served as chair of the Ohio Feed and Grain Dealer’s Assoc. Feed Committee, where he headed up rewriting the Ohio Feed Law.

Beougher is now retired and has been instrumental in many programs as president of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. Buchy grew up in Greenville, working in and later owning his family’s meat packing plant as the fifth generation.

He served in the Ohio House of Representatives for 22 years and later, was an assistant director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. He also served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Buchy is credited with investing in youth over the years, through legislation that brought 4-H and FFA programs to students in urban areas.

Holfinger, of Troy, tended to cattle in Miami County for half a century with her husband. More importantly, she spent the same amount of time as a volunteer in the area for the betterment of Ohio agriculture.

 

As a staunch advocate of Ohio’s beef industry, she served on the Ohio Beef Council Operating Committee for eight years, helping shape the state’s beef council in the early years of the national checkoff program. Holfinger served in various capacities for the Ohio Cattlemen’s Assoc., Ohio Cattle Women, Miami County Cattlemen’s Assoc., Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Miami County Planning Commission and Zoning Board, Ohio Bicentennial Board and the Ohio Expositions Commission. Strickler, of Lakeview, has a lifetime of experience in the agricultural industry and serves as the longest-running general manager in the history of the Ohio Expo Center and Ohio State Fair. He has been passionate about supporting and educating Ohio’s youth about agriculture. He was instrumental in promoting the fourth-grade “Ag is Cool” program and the Youth Reserve Program for livestock participants, which created a multimillion-dollar scholarship program.

Their inductions will take place in the Cardinal Hall at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Tickets can be obtained by calling 614-794-8970 or via email at info@ohioagcouncil.org