OSU Extension
Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio 4-H State Staff

Ryan Schmiesing, Ph.D. & Vicki Schwartz
Co-State 4-H Leaders, Assistant Directors of OSU Extension
Administrative Secretary: Lisa Jinks, Administrative Assistant - 614.292.6996
Administrative Assist/Fiscal: Anna Bernard - 614.292.1935
schmiesing.3@cfaes.osu.edu / schwartz.4@cfaes.osu.edu

  • Provide leadership, guidance and vision to Ohio's 4-H Youth Development Program
  • Develop and administer financial support for the Ohio 4 H Youth Development program
  • Provide administrative direction to the Ohio 4-H Foundation
  • Facilitate and monitor the development of collaborations with other departments, colleges, and organizations engaged in resourcing youth development programs
  • Work collaboratively with other Assist. Directors and Center directors to provide leadership for interdisciplinary programs across the OSU Extension organization
  • Assist with the recruitment, placement and professional development of county, center, and state professionals
  • Represent OSU Extension in addressing youth development issues and policies
  • Serve as a member of OSU Extension Administrative Cabinet
  • Provide administrative leadership to the state 4-H Youth Development office

Ryan Schmiesing, Ph.D.
Associate State 4-H Leader
Support Staff: Sarah Leidheiser, Program Assistant - 614.292.4444
Direct Office Phone: 614.247.8168
schmiesing.3@cfaes.osu.edu

  • Assist with leadership and overall coordination of the Ohio 4-H Youth Development Program
  • Provide primary leadership to 4-H program and volunteer risk management issues including policy development and implementation; respond to day-to-day questions/issues and provide guidance to 4-H program management
  • Provide leadership to volunteerism for OSU Extension, with special emphasis on volunteer identification, selection, and evaluation, Co-leadership of the 4-H Volunteer Priority Team

Allen Auck
Extension Associate - Events & Activities
Support Staff: vacant, Program Assistant - 614.292.4444
Direct Office Phone: 614.247.8148
auck.1@osu.edu

  • Coordination and leadership for 4-H non-livestock programs at the Ohio State Fair
  • Ohio 4-H Teen Conference coordination
  • Citizenship Washington Focus trip coordination
  • Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference/Recognition Luncheon coordination
  • Co-Advisor to Collegiate 4-H at The Ohio State University
  • Coordinate the development of the Ohio 4-H program calendar, the Events and Activities Handbook, and the Ohio State Fair Guidebook
  • Coordinate the Achievement Awards and Program Scholarships

Kathryn J. Cox, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Adolescent Youth Development
Support Staff: Linda Hast, Office Assistant - 614.292.6941
cox.5@osu.edu

  • Youth and adolescent development through 4-H
  • Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Priority Team including:
    • 4-H CARTEENS
    • 4-H International Service
    • 4-H Leadership Resources
    • 4-H Service Leadership
    • 4-H Teen Leadership/Junior Leadership
    • 4-H Workforce Preparation
    • 4-H Youth Boardsmanship / Youth In Government
  • Ohio 4-H Teen Programs including:
    • Ohio 4-H Teen Council
    • Ohio 4-H Ambassadors
    • State 4-H Fashion Board
    • State 4-H Leadership Camp
    • State Fair, 4-H Leadership day, Athletic Day, and International Day

Theresa Ferrari, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Youth Program Management(75%)
Department of Human and Community Resource Development (HCRD) (25%)
Support Staff: vacant, Program Assistant - 614.292.4444
Direct Office Phone: 614.247.8164
ferrari.8@cfaes.osu.edu

http://www.ohio4h.org/tferrari
http://operationmilitarykids.ohio4h.org

  • Serve as a resource with a specialization in after-school programs. Serve as Priority Team Co-Leader for 4-H Afterschool Priority Team and State Contact for 4-H Afterschool at the national level
  • Serve as Principal Investigator of the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Project, working with two local sites (Adventure Central & Franklin County) and statewide programs. These sites focus on workforce preparation and family involvement through out-of-school time programs
  • Serve as Ohio's 4-H Military Liaison, working with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and as Project Director for Operation: Military Kids (OMK), which targets youth with deployed parents in the National Guard and Reserves
  • Serve as a resource for conducting, interpreting, and synthesizing research in positive youth development
  • Teach undergraduate/graduate courses in Extension Education with emphasis on youth organizations and advise graduate students in Extension Education

Larry Harris
Program Coordinator - 4-H Shooting / Fishing Sports (50%)
Support Staff: vacant Program Assistant - 614.292.4444
Direct Office Phone: 740.286.4058
harris.870@osu.edu

http://www.ohio4hshootingsports.org

  • Give leadership to the Planning Committee(s) in planning, promoting, conducting and evaluating the Shooting Sports Education Camp and Ohio Leader Training in 4-H Shooting Sports and Sport Fishing
  • Coordinate participation in National Certification Workshops by Ohio volunteers and 4-H Shooting Sports and Sportfishing Activities at the Ohio State Fair
  • Provide leadership to State 4-H Committee(s) in exploring the possibilities and establishing an Ohio 4-H State Shooting Sports Competition
  • Seek financial resources to support the program

Robert L. Horton, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Educational Design and Science Education
Support Staff: Amanda Forquer, Program Assistant - 614.292.6942
Direct Office Phone: 614.247.8150
horton.2@osu.edu

  • Curriculum design
  • Publications coordination
  • School Enrichment programming
  • Science education programs; camps, schools and special events
  • Self Determined Projects

Jermaine Kennedy
Program Coordinator - Operation Military Kids
Direct Office Phone: 614.292.3758
kennedy.264@osu.edu
omk@cfaes.osu.edu

http://operationmilitarykids.ohio4h.org

  • Youth, Family Day Camps, Military Family Events
  • S.W.A.T. Team for youth
  • Organize 4-H members for aid to youth with deployed parents
  • Provide Ready, Set, Go! training for educators, youth serving agencies, and community based organizations to raise awareness

Paul Kuber, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Animal Sciences
Program Specialist: Masa Doig - 614.292.7453
Direct Office Phone: 614.247.8305
kuber.2@osu.edu

  • Serve as liaison between the State 4-H Youth Development Program and the Animal Sciences Department
  • Provide leadership for the educational design of youth programs in the Animal Science Department
  • Plan, conduct and evaluate 4-H animal projects, state youth events and other educational activities
  • Provide leadership for the review, revision, and development of 4-H projects and programs in Animal Sciences
  • Provide coordination and leadership for 4-H Animal Science Programs at the Ohio State Fair (state judging contests for general livestock, dairy cattle, horse and poultry, livestock skillathons and other related programs). Project/program liaison: beef, dairy, goats, horses, poultry, sheep, and swine

Kristi Lekies, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Research and Evaluation
Direct Office Phone: 614-688-3537
lekies.1@cfaes.osu.edu

  • Provide leadership for the development of a comprehensive research agenda documenting the impacts of 4-H on youth families, and communities
  • Carry out research and evaluation projects
  • Disseminate research and evaluation results
  • Conduct workshops on evaluation, applied research, and research strategies
  • Provide research and evaluation support for county, regional, center, and state faculty and staff
  • Serve as a consultant on 4-H faculty and staff directed projects

Scott D. Scheer, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Preadolescent Education Associate Professor (25%)
Department of Human and Community Resource Development (HCRD) (75%)
Direct Office Phone: 614.292.6758
scheer.9@osu.edu

  • Assist Extension professionals as they work with the 4 H Cloverbud program
  • Develop resources and curriculum for the 4-H Cloverbud program
  • Serve as co-leader of the 4-H Cloverbud Priority Team with Bruce Zimmer (Monroe County)

Vicki Schwartz
Extension Specialist - Volunteer & Professional Development
Support Staff: Amanda Forquer, Program Assistant - 614.292.6942
schwartz.4@osu.edu

  • Provide assistance with issues involving volunteers, especially management and training needs. Serve on Volunteer Priority Team
  • Coordinate state and regional volunteer training opportunities: Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference, and North Central Region Volunteer Forum
  • Support new 4-H staff with orientation and training. Address question that arise daily
  • Involved with planning in-services and training opportunities for Ohio 4-H staff

Mary Lynn Thalheimer
Program Manager - Ohio 4-H International Program
Support Staff: Linda Hast, Office Assistant - 614.292.6941
Direct Office Phone: 614.247.8162
thalheimer.1@osu.edu

  • Manage all aspects of the Ohio 4-H International Program, including inbound and outbound Labo Japanese Exchanges, Nihongo, Internships, Adult Exchanges, Youth Study Tours, Finland Exchange.
  • Recruit, train and support International County Coordinator (ICC) Middle Management Volunteers.
  • Serve as resource person for county personnel planning international programs and events.
  • Coordinate international speakers available throughout the state.
  • Design educational materials for international program participants.

Jane Wright
Extension Associate - Curriculum Manager
Support Staff: Amanda Forquer, Program Assistant - 614.292.6942
Direct Office Phone: 614.292.0909
wright.646@cfaes.osu.edu

  • Assist with leadership to the development of 4-H member curriculum.
  • Plan and manage the production cycle for 4-H curriculum material.
  • Provide leadership to the revision and production of the 4-H Family Guide.
  • Serve as a liaison with academic departments and curriculum teams to write and review 4-H project books.

Ohio 4-H Foundation

Erin Wingfield
Foundation Manager - Resource Development
Support Staff: Christy George, Program Assistant - 614.292.6943
ewingfield@cfaes.osu.edu

  • Coordinate and prepare ongoing communication with the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board.
  • Initiate, produce, and distribute resource and development materials for staff, board members, volunteers, and the community.
  • Plan and produce fundraising projects for the Ohio 4-H Foundation under the direction of the Assist. Director and the Board.
  • In cooperation with Assist. Director, arrange board meetings, committee meetings, and donor contacts.
  • Coordinate and write funding proposals.
  • Initiate stewardship efforts with donors.

Denise Johnson
Foundation Coordinator - Resource Development
Support Staff: Christy George, Program Assistant - 614.292.6943
Direct Office Phone: 614.292.0082
johnson.2924@osu.edu

  • Initiate, produce, and distribute resource and development materials for staff, board members, volunteers, and the community.
  • Plan and produce fundraising projects for the Ohio 4 H Foundation under the direction of the Assist. Director and the Board.
  • In cooperation with Assist. Director, arrange board meetings, committee meetings, and donor contacts.
  • Assist with writing funding proposals.
  • Distribute and monitor grant projects and funds with the direction of the Board.

Jim Helt
Development Officer, OSU Extension and 4-H Youth Development
Support Staff: Christy George, Program Assistant - 614.292.6943

  • Donor relations and donor contacts.

Bill McCleery
Development Officer, 4-H Youth Development - Building Campaign
Support Staff: Amelia Brashear, Office Assistant - 614.247.6904
mccleery.8@cfaes.osu.edu

Provide leadership to:

  • The Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center "Building the Future" Campaign.
  • Major gift fund-raising for the Center endowment including deferred gifts.
  • Stewardship of Center donors.
  • Coordination of Center naming opportunities.

Specialists Located at Centers

Bill Harris
Extension Specialist - 4-H Clubs, Center at Wooster
Support Staff: Lisa Troyer, Office Assistant - 330.263.3799
harris.12@osu.edu

  • Co-Leader, Strengthening Ohio's 4-H Clubs Team.
  • Club Advisor Handbook and use of web resource.
  • Club Officer Workbooks and training.
  • 4-H Club promotion and visibility.
  • Club Charters
  • Ohio 4-H Clubs of Distinction Awards
  • 4-H Name and emblem policies & guidelines
  • 4-H Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks, within clubs as county contest and State Fair.
  • State 4-H Sea Camp

Niki Nestor McNeely, Ph.D.
Extension Specialist - Camping, Center at Lima
Support Staff: Carolyn Hall, Office Administrative Associate- 614.292.3748
Cell: 513.470.0352
mcneely.1@osu.edu

  • 4-H Camping - program management, program planning and development, counselor training, camp resources, Co-leader camping priority team
  • Experiential learning - training 4-H Educators, adult volunteers, and camp counselors to integrate experiential learning into 4-H programming
  • Workforce preparation - identification, documentation, and deliberate inclusion of skills, knowledge, and experiences needed for successful employment
  • Youth development - training 4-H educators, volunteers, and camp counselors how to incorporate the 8 key elements of positive youth development into all aspects of 4-H programming
  • Volunteer development - training, management, risk management, ISOTURE volunteer model of management

Lucinda Miller
Extension Specialist - Companion & Small Animal Programs, Center at Piketon
Assistant: Julie Strawser - 740.289.2071, ext. 223
Direct Office Phone: 614.292.4410
South Centers Phone: 740.289.2071 ext. 152
miller.78@osu.edu

http://southcenters.osu.edu/4h

  • Provide leadership to companion and small animal programs, including 4-H PetPALS
  • Coordinate state and regional companion and small animal training opportunities: 4-H PetPALS, Ohio 4-H Dog Expo
  • Provide leadership to and assist with companion and small animal curriculum development
  • Provide leadership to Ohio State Fair companion and small animal activities
  • Provide leadership to the State 4-H Dog Advisory Committee

Volunteer Fingerprint Applications

Brystal Slator
Phone: 614.292.6944
vol-fingerprints@ag.osu.edu

Computer Support

Andy Merritt
Systems Manager
Phone: 614.292.9976
merritt.36@cfaes.osu.edu

Jim Elder
Blue Ribbon Youth Enrollment Support
Located at West Regional Office in Findlay, OH
Phone: 419.422.6106, ext. 2513
elder.2@osu.edu