Ohio Farmer

Greg Waidelich and Matt Aultman have been selected as this year's winners.

Jennifer Kiel, Editor, Michigan Farmer

January 27, 2021

1 Min Read
2021 Ohio Master Farmer honorees Greg Waidelich and Matt Aultman
MASTER FARMERS: Greg Waidelich (left), who farms more than 1,700 acres in Amanda, and Matt Aultman, who farms almost 700 acres in Greenville, are the 2021 Ohio Master Farmers.

The Ohio Master Farmer award is reserved for an elite group of individuals who consistently demonstrate outstanding farm management, innovation, conservation and leadership.

Ohio Farmer has bestowed the prestigious Master Farmer award on individuals who have demonstrated how to farm more effectively, efficiently, environmentally and economically.

This year’s winners are Greg Waidelich of Amanda, Ohio, in Fairfield County and Matt Aultman of Greenville, Ohio, in Darke County.

Waidelich farms just over 1,700 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and cover crops and has worked with the Fairfield Soil and Water Conservation District for almost 40 years to install an array of conservation practices.

Aultman stresses diversification on the 564 acres he’s farming, growing everything from row crops and cover crops to tomatoes, gourds and fresh-cut flowers in seasonal high tunnels. He serves on several agriculture and youth boards as an advocate for the industry, and he also has several leadership positions within his community.

Read more about these award-winning farmers in the next two days online and in the March issue of American Agriculturist.

Master Farmers are nominated by peers and acknowledged for a lifetime of achievement rather than a single year.

As Master Farmers, Waidelich and Aultman will receive plaques from Ohio Farmer magazine and a Carhartt jacket donated by Carhartt.

­In a non-COVID-19 year, the winners would have been awarded at the Ohio Conservation Tillage & Technology Conference in March, which is offered virtually this year.

For those tuning in, videos produced by Nicole Heslip and Shannon Yokley of Brownfield Ag News will highlight the winners at the end of each day March 9 to 12. The videos also will be offered online as their stories appear.

About the Author(s)

Jennifer Kiel

Editor, Michigan Farmer

While Jennifer is not a farmer and did not grow up on a farm, "I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone with more appreciation for the people who grow our food and fiber, live the lifestyles and practice the morals that bind many farm families," she says.

Before taking over as editor of Michigan Farmer in 2003, she served three years as the manager of communications and development for the American Farmland Trust Central Great Lakes Regional Office in Michigan and as director of communications with Michigan Agri-Business Association. Previously, she was the communications manager at Michigan Farm Bureau's state headquarters. She also lists 10 years of experience at six different daily and weekly Michigan newspapers on her impressive resume.

Jennifer lives in St. Johns with her two daughters, Elizabeth, 19, and Emily 16.

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