MEET THE CANDIDATES

We have 2 openings on the board to be elected during the annual meeting on 10-28-15.  Here are the 4 people running for the board.

Bill Bertram

Bill and his wife, Shirley, live in Londonderry Township.  They have two children.  Bill was born and raised in Guernsey County.  He graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Horticulture.  Formerly employed in NE Ohio by the Farm Credit Agency, he returned to Guernsey County to take over managing the family farm from his father,  and established Bertram’s Orchard.  His father received a conservation award from the district, and the sign still hangs proudly at the orchard.Bill serves on the board of directors for several area Farmer’s Markets.   He and his family attend Oak Grove Baptist church.  He has served on the Advisory Committee  of Harrison/Belmont Vocational school in Cadiz,  where he also substitute teaches.  He also substitutes in East Guernsey School District.

Ed Kennedy

Ed and his wife, Sandy, have 2 sons who are also involved in the farm. They have recently been recognized as a century farm.  They own 240 acres and farm 900+ and custom farm another 250.  In 2010, The Kennedy’s were recognized with the district’s Co-operator of the Year award.   He has participated in the SWCD cover crop program for the past 3 years.  Born and raised in Guernsey County, Ed attended and graduated from Newcomerstown schools.Ed is a member of the Plainfield United Methodist Church.  He is a member of the Elks, Farm Bureau, and has served on the Farm Service Agency’s county committee in the past.Ed is retired from Gencorp Plastics.

Jo Lucas

Jo and her husband, Don, share 2 children and six grandchildren.  They own 100+ acres of pasture and managed timber.  Jo grew up on a small farm in Holmes county and has lived in Guernsey county about 35 years.  Jo is a member of and serves as treasurer of the Mt. Herman Presbyterian Church.  She is one of the original Guernsey county Master Gardeners, having been so for over 10 years.  She has been a member of the Grow & Show garden club and has held a number of offices in that club.   She served as of the president of the auxiliary of SEORMC for 3 years, and also sat on the hospital board of trustees.Jo is retired from Southeast Equipment where she worked in the accounting department for over 10 years.

Rusty Roberts

Rusty and his wife Gayle have 2 children, Josey and Gregory.  They live in Cambridge Twp.  

Rusty grew up in Cambridge and graduated Malone University. He was a health educator at Meadowbrook MS, from which he retired in 2015 with many teaching awards. He has also served on the Cambridge City Board of Education for the past 15 years.   He is an Eagle Scout, and is currently a merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts of America.Rusty is a former Guernsey County Commissioner.He has served for 8 years on the Mid-East Career & Technology Center Board, and 2 years as vice-president of that board.His environmental interests include assisting with a longterm study conducted by the National Environmental Council with the University of Cincinnati.  

Rusty is an active public speaker, and enjoys speaking to groups.