Free November 14 event will celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage with local history presentations, farmland preservation resources, and a guided tour of the 1843 homestead.

BLUFFTON, Ohio — What better place to celebrate the farms, barns, and rural heritage of west central Ohio than a historic homestead? The West Central Ohio Land Conservancy (WCOLC) invites the community to Farms, Barns & Rural Heritage, a free afternoon event on Saturday, November 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Swiss Community Historical Society and historic 1843 Schumacher Homestead, located at 8350 Bixel Road in Pandora.

The historic homestead offers a fitting setting for an afternoon exploring the agricultural traditions and rural history that have shaped the region. In addition to presentations from local historians and community organizations, attendees will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Schumacher Homestead and learn more about the historic property.

The event also marks WCOLC’s 20th anniversary, bringing the organization’s work to preserve working lands and natural areas into a broader celebration of the region’s heritage. Attendees can learn about preserving farmland and historic barns, discover resources for researching family and farm history, and connect with organizations working to preserve local history and agricultural traditions.

Katie Ware, Executive Director of WCOLC

“As we celebrate 20 years of WCOLC, we’re excited to try something new and bring together local organizations, community members, and partners to celebrate what makes our region special. It’s an opportunity to learn more about our region’s agricultural heritage and history, while also sharing WCOLC’s own story. The work we’ve done over the past two decades and why protecting working lands and natural areas remains so important for our region’s future. We hope to welcome people who have supported us for years as well as those who are just getting to know us.”

Since its founding in 2006, WCOLC has worked to protect working lands and natural areas forever in Hancock County and the surrounding west central Ohio region. Through farmland preservation and conservation easements, the organization helps landowners protect important properties while allowing farms to remain privately owned and working.

The afternoon’s presentations will begin at 1:30 p.m. and include:

• 1:50 p.m. — History of West Central Ohio Barns, with local historian Keith Sommer

• 2:15 p.m. — Uncovering Your Family and Farm History, with the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library

• 2:40 p.m. — Protecting Farmland for the Future, with the West Central Ohio Land Conservancy

• 3:05 p.m. — Century Farms Program and Farmland Preservation, with the Ohio Department of Agriculture

• 3:30 p.m. — Explore the Schumacher Homestead, a tour with the Swiss Community Historical Society

Doors open at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided.

WCOLC thanks the sponsors helping make the event possible: Hempy Water Conditioning (Heritage Sponsor); Citizens National Bank, Legacy Farmers Cooperative, and Visit Findlay! Hancock County Convention and Visitors Bureau(Community Sponsors); and Hitchings Insurance Agency(Friend of WCOLC).

For more information, visit www.wcolc.org.

About the West Central Ohio Land Conservancy
The West Central Ohio Land Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust serving Hancock, Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. WCOLC works to protect working lands and natural areas forever through land preservation, outreach and education, and advocacy.