OSU Extension Mercer County

OSU Extension Mercer County Mercer County Extension office is a "branch office" of The Ohio State University. As their answer to this problem, they formed the Agricultural Students Union.

Some of the earliest starts in the college education of agriculture and agricultural research began with the Morrill Act of 1862, which set aside government land to establish “land-grant colleges and universities.” The Hatch Act of 1887 made the first grants in aid of federal funds to the states for conducting agricultural research. An important turning point in Ohio’s agricultural progress came

in 1895 when a group of students in the School of Agriculture at The Ohio State University decided that results of classroom instruction at Ohio State and research done at the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station were not getting out to farmers on the land. They planned and encouraged research and demonstrations of farms over the next ten years. These demonstrations were mainly held on farms operated by former students of the college. This was indeed the first “extension” of college teaching and experimental research in Ohio. On July 1, 1905, A.B. Grahm became the first Superintendent of Extension at The Ohio State University. He immediately wrote up this plan for Extension work:

“To elevate the standard of living in rural communities.”
“To emphasize the importance of hard work and habits of industry, which are essential to building a strong character.”
“To acquaint boys and girls with their environment and to interest them in making their own investigations.”
“To give boys who shall become interested in farm work an elementary knowledge of agriculture and farm practices and to girls the simplest facts of domestic economy.”
“To educate the adults in elementary science of agriculture and in the most up-to-date farm practices.”

Going along with the first plan of Extension work in Ohio were two basic objectives: 1) to introduce more instruction in agriculture and domestic science into rural schools, and
2) to care for as many boys and girls in agricultural clubs as practicable, with or without the public schools.

Our office will be closed on Friday this week in observance of Juneteenth. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the Un...
06/15/2026

Our office will be closed on Friday this week in observance of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States, commemorating June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in Texas learned they were free - more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln.
Our regular office hours are 8:30am-4:00pm, M-F or by appointment. We look forward to connecting with you!

🌿🌼 Calling all garden lovers - and lovers of learning! 🌼🌿Join us on Wednesday, June 24 at 6pm for our third Lawn & Garde...
06/10/2026

🌿🌼 Calling all garden lovers - and lovers of learning! 🌼🌿
Join us on Wednesday, June 24 at 6pm for our third Lawn & Garden Talk of the summer: all about the Ohio State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
Have you ever thought about turning your passion for gardening into something more? Come learn how you can grow your skills through extensive horticultural training, then volunteer your time assisting with educational programs and activities in our area.

If you're not ready to become a Master Gardener Volunteer, you're still welcome to come learn about the program. They are a wonderful community resource! Please join us and bring a friend. No pre-registration is required.

Our office is closed on Monday, May 25 and will reopen on Tuesday. We look forward to connecting with you then!
05/22/2026

Our office is closed on Monday, May 25 and will reopen on Tuesday. We look forward to connecting with you then!

Join us Wednesday, May 27 for part two of our summer Lawn & Garden Talk series! Discover the art and science of fermenti...
05/14/2026

Join us Wednesday, May 27 for part two of our summer Lawn & Garden Talk series! Discover the art and science of fermenting fresh vegetables into delicious, gut-healthy foods. Our guest speaker, Tina McGillvary, will guide you through the basics of fermentation and share practical tips you can use at home. Tina is the Family and Consumer Sciences Educator in Darke County OSU Extension.

The Talk begins at 6:00pm in the Conference Room of the Mercer County Ag Center, located at 4978 Mud Pike, Celina. Everyone is welcome to attend and all Talks are free!

Looking to strengthen your manure and fertilizer management strategies? Join us on July 22 for the Manure Science Review...
05/06/2026

Looking to strengthen your manure and fertilizer management strategies?
Join us on July 22 for the Manure Science Review at Homan, Inc, tailored for farmers, applicators, and agricultural professionals working with manure and fertilizer. This event will highlight current research, proven practices, and practical insights to support effective nutrient management on the farm.
Learn, ask questions, and connect with others who work hands-on in agriculture.
Registration opens June 1.
Event hosted by Ohio State Extension Environmental and Manure Management and Water Quality Extension Associates.

🌱 Join Us for Our First Lawn & Garden Talk! 🌱We’re excited to kick off our Lawn & Garden Talk series with an informative...
04/16/2026

🌱 Join Us for Our First Lawn & Garden Talk! 🌱
We’re excited to kick off our Lawn & Garden Talk series with an informative session on “Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly.”
📅 Wednesday, April 29
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍In the Conference Room of the Mercer County Agriculture Center, located at 4978 Mud Pike, Celina
⭐️ Free & open to the public
Learn how to identify this invasive pest, why it matters, and what you can do to help protect our local landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just curious, this talk is for you!
Bring a friend and come grow your knowledge with us—we hope to see you there! 🌿

🌿Our Great Garden Giveaway is back! 🌿Mercer County residents- come by our office to pick up a packet of free vegetable s...
04/02/2026

🌿Our Great Garden Giveaway is back! 🌿
Mercer County residents- come by our office to pick up a packet of free vegetable seeds for your garden.
We're giving away seeds to grow:
🥗red and green lettuce
🥕carrots
🥒cucumbers
🌱parsley
🎃pumpkin
🍈cantaloupe
🌻sunflowers

To help us improve our program, we ask participants to fill out a brief gardening survey when you come to pick up seeds.

Location: OSU Extension Mercer County | 4978 Mud Pike, Suite 1, Celina

Office hours are 8:30am-4:00pm M-F. Available while supplies last.

Have questions? 419-586-2179

🍀Ohio 4-H Week is here! What was your experience in 4-H in Mercer County?
03/11/2026

🍀Ohio 4-H Week is here! What was your experience in 4-H in Mercer County?

Extension professionals lead Ohio 4-H programs in all of Ohio's 8️⃣ 8️⃣ counties.

If you'd like to learn more about how to get involved in 4-H where you live, visit ohio4h.org.

Join us on Wednesday evenings in March for our new series Fruit Gardening 101! 🍓🍇🫐Discover how easy and rewarding it can...
02/13/2026

Join us on Wednesday evenings in March for our new series Fruit Gardening 101! 🍓🍇🫐
Discover how easy and rewarding it can be to grow your own fruit at home. Over four sessions, a knowledgeable guest speaker will walk us through the basics of planting, caring for, and harvesting strawberries, apples, brambles, and grapes.
This series is held in the Conference Room at the Mercer County Agriculture Center at 4978 Mud Pike, Celina. We start at 6:00pm. Each session is free of cost and open to all!

01/27/2026

Take extra precautions to stay safe outside during this frigid winter weather. ❄️

Address

4978 Mud Pike, Suite 1
Celina, OH
45822

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+14195862179

Website

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