McDonald is particularly interested in gravel riding these days, which is pretty much what it sounds like– “mixed surface” cycling that combines elements of road and mountain-biking, and takes place mostly on unpaved roads. Though people have been riding on gravel roads for decades, it is the fastest growing sector, according to a 2018 Outside Magazine article.

With its proximity to the Baileys Trail System to the south in Athens County, the AEP Recreation Land to the north in Noble County and the Wayne National Forest surrounding the region, Morgan county is uniquely positioned to serve as a similar outdoor recreation hub.

McDonald’s launched a business called Morgan County Adventure Cycling and plans to lead private coaching sessions and guided tours from his family’s property in Ringgold. “We’ve always come here and trained because Morgan County has over a hundred miles of gravel roads. There’s plenty of options to do 20 to 30 plus mile loops without ever crossing a paved road. On our property alone, we’re surrounded by seven miles of gravel road; there’s over 800 feet of elevation change within that seven miles. We have a 24 mile loop out here that has over a thousand feet of elevation gain,” he said.

Looking for new projects while you're snowed in this winter? Learn how to create custom garments with Talcon-Quinn by sewing yourself a buckskin belt pouch! Class will be taught via zoom on March 13th, 12-5pm. Leather sewing awls & buckskin material are required for this class. Registration is due by midnight March 5th. Materials will be mailed to students once registration is confirmed.

Class fee is based on a sliding scale of $125-$250, see website for more info:

“As we enter 2022, we are very excited about our five new trustees. Through their service to our organization, we are strengthening ties to our region's educational institutions, the community of Nelsonville, which houses our largest facility, and our region's successful entrepreneurs,” said Larry Fisher, ACEnet’s Executive Director.

Joining the Board of Trustees are Erin Rennich, Senior Executive Coach & Strategic Advisor with Ohio University’s Social Enterprise Ecosystem (SEE), and Director of the Sugar Bush Foundation; Carrie Arnold, Workforce and Testing Coordinator at Hocking College; Cale G. Burke, Senior Project Manager with Ohio University’s Social Enterprise Ecosystem (SEE) and Peer Mentor for the Athens County Veteran Drug Court; Dr. Tara Slingerland, owner/operator of Butcher’s Bites, Athens Advanced Chiropractic & Innovative Wellness Solutions; and Scott Frank, Nelsonville City Manager.

The slate of board members for 2022 is as follows:

Sky Pettey, Board Chair; Laurie McKnight, Vice Chair; Mollie Fitzgerald, Secretary; Sarah Milligan, Treasurer; Kathryn Mosher; Sean Terrell; Paul Mass; Erin Rennich; Carrie Arnold; Cale G. Burke; Dr. Tara Slingerland; Scott Frank

ACEnet's Food Enterprise Coordinator, Adam Kody, had a visit 2 weeks ago from Neal Zaccagnini, owner of The Roosevelt Restaurant, in Bellaire, OH and Vincent DeGeorge, the Director of Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives from Grow Ohio Valley, in Wheeling, WV.

Stay tuned to see where this collaboration goes and if you're in the area be sure to check out the homemade pasta at The Roosevelt!

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Center for Cooperatives seeks a collaborative, organized, and goal-oriented individual to serve as Program Coordinator to support and coordinate the research, teaching, and Extension functions of the Center. Applications must be submitted online and are due February 14, 2022.

Position is located at OSU South Centers Extension Office and Research Center in Piketon, OH. 50% - Teaching and Education | 25% - Development Assistance | 25% - Outreach

Questions? Contact Hannah Scott at scott.1220@osu.edu or Beth Rigsby at rigsby.22@osu.edu.

Learn more about the position and apply online: https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Satellite-Campus/Program-Coordinator_R37806-1

ACEnet collaborators Angela Blatt, Paul Dorrance, and Rachel Tayse will be presenting at the hybrid Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association Annual Conference – February 17-19, 2022 on our joint USDA Local Foods Promotion Program (LFPP) project, “Planning to Advance Mobile Meat Slaughter and Processing in Ohio and Central Appalachia.”

The Athens Farmers Market takes place year round on Saturday at the Market on State Shopping Mall, both inside and outside. For more information & information on becoming a vendor, see the Athens Farmers Market website.

OEFFA's Annual Conference is Ohio’s largest sustainable food and farm conference offers up to four days of live learning, sharing, and connecting with sustainable farmers, gardeners, and local food supporters. The event will feature dozens of educational workshops, in-depth Food and Farm School classes, powerful keynote speakers, an exhibit hall, networking, community conversations, and an interactive conference app to connect with other participants and access recordings through March 31, so you can participate on your schedule!

The 2022 OEFFA hybrid conference will kick off with a fully virtual day on Saturday that will help you learn and engage from anywhere with an internet connection, and then move to Dayton for more educational sessions, networking, community building, and celebrating together. For more information: https://conference.oeffa.org/

UpBEAT programs continue to be virtual at this time. In February there will be a virtual “Meet and Greet” with UpBEAT Advisory Board members. The UpBEAT Advisory Board is an essential piece to the UpBEAT program and offers the opportunity for members’ voices to be heard. Please join the Meet & Greet to learn more about UpBEAT! In addition, February will feature more about guided imagery, the history of local iconic structures in Athens County, research centered on the ‘triad’ of fall risk and will have a weekly opportunity to exercise together.

If you're 55+, connect with UpBEAT! https://www.ohiohealth.com/health-and-wellness/upbeat-program-athens You can also call Caitlin Bond, UpBEAT Program Coordinator, at (740) 566-4680 for more info or to receive the UpBEAT newsletter.