ATI Dairy Club Invitational Contest Results

dicus.1@osu.edu — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:18:34 +0000

The ATI Dairy Club Invitational Dairy Judging Contest was held Saturday, February 28 at the 91�� Krauss Dairy. One hundred twenty-four students from across Ohio and Pennsylvania traveled to the CFAES Wooster campus to compete in the contest.

The ATI Dairy Club would like to thank the Krauss Dairy farm staff for their help in preparing for the event, Robin Alden for serving as the official judge, and the coaches, parents, and contestants who made the trip to participate.

View the official placings and contest results

Cheers for now, and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

ATI General Livestock Judging Contest Results

dicus.1@osu.edu — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:09:51 +0000

ATI General Livestock Judging Contest Results

On behalf of the Hoof-n-Hide club I would like to thank you all for attending Saturday’s contest. There were over 200 total participants. We apologize for the starting delay as we make every effort to start on time. However, some of the livestock thought it would be a great opportunity to work on students’ animal handling skills. As always, we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of results, however, if you find a discrepancy please let me know asap so awards can be distributed.

View the senior scores.

View the junior scores.

Once again, thank you for your patience and participation.

Mike Amstutz

330-287-1380

Amstutz.1@osu.edu

Learning by Leading: ATI Students Bring Their Equine Workshop to Life

dicus.1@osu.edu — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:02:01 +0000

Learning by Leading: ATI Students Bring Their Equine Workshop to Life

The ATI Equine Workshop is an exciting, hands-on event created by ambitious students currently enrolled in the equine facilities management course. It is happening March 3 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at 3339 S Apple Creek Rd, Apple Creek, OH 44606 with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. The event is designed for anyone with an interest in horses, from beginners to experienced equestrians.

This engaging evening will feature knowledgeable guest speakers sharing insights on equine training, common equine parasites, bridleless riding, and a veterinarian Q+A. One of the highlights of the night will be a special stallion presentation of the stallions that will be standing here at ATI for the 2026 breeding season. Attendees can also explore a variety of interactive booths showcasing equine centered businesses, feeds, resources, and more.

Whether you’re looking to learn more about horses, connect with others who share your passion, or simply have a good time, the ATI Equine Workshop is a great event to come to. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and enjoy an evening all about horses.

What to expect?

Presenters

The ATI facilities class is excited to welcome four different presenters. We came together as a team and brainstormed what we believed our community would find the most benefit and enjoyment. Guests will enjoy a bridleless riding demonstration from a trained professional who practices bridleless dressage with her Friesian horse. We are also welcoming a veterinarian to our facility to host a question and answer session that you don’t want to miss. Similarly, there will be an equine parasite presentation with the chance to experience up close and personal views of common parasites affecting horses. To finish our event off, we will have a training demonstration performed by a local trainer. These demonstrations promise to be educational and exciting.

Showcasing ATI’s Stallions and Breeding Program

The ATI Equine Center will be showcasing the stallions standing ATI in 2026. Guests will have the opportunity to see resident Standardbred stallion Bring On The Beach; as well as stallions What The Hill, Call For Justice, Nvestment Blue Chip, and Traceur Hanover. The final additions to the showcase are two Quarter Horse reining stallions new to ATI this season, Call Me Oldfashiond and Gunner’s Easy Money. For stallion inquiries contact barn manager Aspen Adams at adams.917@osu.edu or 330-698-7669.

Stations

Students involved with the Equine Facilities Management Course have been working hard to get in contact with companies and organizations to set up at the Workshop as educational and informative booths. We are hosting local feed and supplement companies, OSU Extension, Soil and Water Conservation, ATI affiliated organizations, along with other equine related groups to come to share their knowledge. We will also be having a kid’s corner with coloring and roping activities. There will be first come, first served food items provided at the beginning of the event as well as beverages. Each attendee will be given a ticket as soon as they arrive and we will be raffling off door prizes throughout the evening.

Get to Know the Future of the Equine Industry

Hear from the students yourself!

Why are you excited for this event?

“I am ecstatic for this event because of how hands-on my classmates and I have gotten to be during the planning. This event is challenging to prepare yet is turning out to be extremely meaningful. Being around the horses and learning through real-life experiences is a wonderful opportunity to acquire new skills and gain confidence within the equine industry. I hope that this workshop can be about growth and learning for all guests who come.”
— Emma Petrus

How do you think this event will impact the school or community?

“I hope that both the school and community are impacted by the workshop. I think that it will be a great way for all horse enthusiasts to network within the equine industry, learn about horse care, and about the equine program here at ATI. Our aim is mutual benefit for the school, community, and presenters.”
— Evelyn Kendle

What’s something people wouldn’t realize goes into planning an event like this?

“Most people don’t realize how many moving parts go into planning an event like this. There is so much information and tedious planning involved in events of any size. Particularly within our event since we have only been in the planning process since our spring courses began on January 12th, 2026 at OSU ATI.

We are hoping that this event will have a large turnout while still being on Tuesday evening. There are only four students involved in the planning process and while this event is a lot of work, there has been so much learning and growth as not only students but future business personnel in the industry.

A lot of the work happens outside scheduled class times such as finding presenters, securing volunteers, coordinating activities, preparing backup plans, advertising plans, social media aspects, and networking with local community members. What I have found to be the most challenging is the planning of activities, making new networking connections, and deciding what would be most beneficial and interesting to our audience.”
— Shayla Hysell

Has planning this event changed how you see leadership or teamwork?

“I used to think that being a leader meant being separate from the team and telling everyone what to do based on their vision. Through this experience, Instructor Shoup has shown us it’s really about being part of the team and supporting others when things get stressful and helping everyone stay focused. She has guided the group in the right direction and has made sure no one feels unheard along the way.

Teamwork has also taken on a new meaning for me. Working with different personalities and opinions isn’t always easy, especially when everyone has their own vision. I’ve learned that strong teams don’t avoid disagreements—they work through them. Finding compromises and moving forward together is what keeps progress going.

What’s been most inspiring is how much creativity comes from collaboration. Each person on our team brings different experiences and ideas, and that diversity is exactly what’s making this event so exciting for everyone. It’s shown me that when people truly work together, the results can be better than anyone imagined alone.”
— Naomi Kirkland

This workshop promises to be a valuable evening to all. We hope to see you there!

Dairy Club Invitational Dairy Judging Contest

sysadmin — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:18:45 +0000

Dear FFA and 4-H Club Members:
You are invited to participate in the annual 91�� ATI Dairy Club Invitational Dairy Judging Contest. This year's contest will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at the 91�� Krauss Dairy, 2250 Oil City Rd., Wooster, Oh 44691.

For more information, please see the invitation linked here.

91�� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest

dicus.1@osu.edu — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:39:20 +0000

91�� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest

Dear FFA and 4-H Club Members:

You are invited to participate in the annual 91�� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest. This year's contest will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at the 91�� ATI Equine Center, located at 3339 S. Apple Creek Rd., Apple Creek, Ohio.

For the full contest rules download the word document.

Buckeyes Excel students explored the Columbus campus on Oct. 23rd

dicus.1@osu.edu — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:46:04 +0000

They celebrated Brutus’ birthday, toured classrooms and campus landmarks, heard from ATI alumni, and learned about study abroad opportunities.

ATI kicks off 2025 Equine Pasture Walk Series

mastellar.1@osu.edu — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:32:20 +0000

Join us for a unique hands-on learning experience focused on equine pasture management. Hear from a variety of experts while engaging in an interactive tour on working horse pasture—perfect for seeing best practices in action. Bring your questions and curiosity as we explore how to create healthier, more productive grazing environments for your horses! The first event in the series is co-hosted by 91�� Extension & ATI’s Equine Program and will take place on July 23rd from 6-8 pm (light refreshments at 5:30 pm) at the 91�� ATI Equine Center, located at 3339 Apple Creek Road, Apple Creek, Ohio 44606.

Topics include:
* Plant/root physiology

* Forage and poisonous plants ID

* Mud management/ dry lots

* Grazing sticks and forage calculations

The event is free for all to attend and no RSVP required, but consider marking yourself as “going” on the Facebook event page to help spread the word! Event updates will be posted on the Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/4412280735694983). For any questions or further information, please feel free to contact Janessa Hill at hill.1357@osu.edu or Dr. Sara Mastellar at mastellar.1@osu.edu.

About the 91�� ATI Equine Center:

The 91�� ATI Equine Center is part of 91��’s Agricultural Technical Institute’s 1,725 acre working farm located in Apple Creek, Ohio. The Center supports coursework and learning opportunities for 91�� ATI students on the Wooster, OH campus pursuing degrees in equine, animal science, and related fields.

For more info:

For more information on happenings at the ATI Equine Center follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ATIEquineCenter/.
For more information from Holmes County Extension check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/OSUEXTHolmes.

Additional upcoming pasture walk events:

August 20th Clermont County – contact Gigi Neal at neal.331@osu.edu or 513-732-7070
September 3rd Ashtabula County – contact Amanda Barnum at Barnum.28@osu.edu or 440-576-9008

Pick one to join us that is closest to you, or feel free to visit different farms throughout Ohio! We look forward to your participation and hope to see you there!

Janessa R Hill
Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, Holmes County
111 E Jackson St, Millersburg, OH 44654
3306743015 Office
hill.1357@osu.edu / osu.edu

Sara L. Mastellar, PhD
Associate Professor - 91�� ATI, Wooster, OH
About: /people/sara-l-mastellar-phd

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ATI Equine Center

equine

horse

Equine marketing class travels to 2024 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale

whited.16@osu.edu — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:33:01 +0000

Ohio is ranked 4th in the nation for horse population and is home to 3 of the top 10 Standardbred sales in North America. This makes the Standardbred industry one of the largest equine industries in Ohio. In fact, more Standardbreds were born in Ohio than in any other state in 2023.

As part of the culmination of the equine marketing class, Standardbred yearlings were sold at the 2024 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale. The sale took place on Tuesday, October 8th at the Champions Center Expo in Springfield, Ohio. "This event showcased the hard work and dedication of our students in the equine majors, and we are pleased to announce the successful sale of our consigned yearlings," said Dr. Sara Mastellar, who teaches the equine marketing class.

For the nine consigned yearlings, the average was $9,889, which is above the overall sale average of $8,821. ATI Wild Side was ATI's highest-selling yearling at $27,000. The colt was sired by Racing Hill and out of ATI's broodmare Extreme Prejudice.

Of tractors and triumph: The ag adventure of Cooper Meshew

whited.16@osu.edu — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:21:58 +0000

This article originally appreared in Ohio's Country Journal on January 29, 2024. Brianna Gwirtz is a 2016 graduate of 91�� ATI.

By Brianna Gwirtz, OCJ field reporter

This past summer, Cooper Meshew packed his bags and headed west to join a custom harvest crew. The days were long and plains were vast venues for the orchestrated dance between combines and grain carts across thousands of acres. The task may not initially seem that extraordinary, but the average onlooker would never know the adversity that Meshew had to overcome to cross off this bucket list item. His journey into agriculture has been far from the ordinary.

As a child, Meshew was diagnosed with a life-changing diagnosis; he has a degenerative nerve disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). The disease affects 1 in 2,500 people, but Meshew has a rare variant of the disease, one that only about 1 in 10 million people worldwide develop. CMT affects sensory and motor nerves in the hands, feet, arms, and legs, resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy.

Along with the challenges of CMT, Meshew does not have a background in agriculture. The self-proclaimed “city kid,” grew up in Wooster but has long been fascinated by machinery.

“Nobody in my family farms,” Meshew said. “But I grew up with many toy tractors and did quite a bit of carpet farming over the years.”

With his infectious enthusiasm for farming, though, Meshew has cultivated a path uniquely his own. Because of his CMT diagnosis, Meshew was assigned an IEP or an individualized educational program. In high school, he was given the option to attend the local career center, but instead applied to post-secondary courses at 91�� ATI. Meshew was accepted and began his crop management courses as a junior in high school.

Around the same time, Meshew started his own landscaping company called Buckeye Brush and Turf.

“My main focus was weekly residential lawn care and brush clearing. I learned a lot about being a manager and having employees,” Meshew said.

While the business got him closer to operating equipment and being outdoors, it still wasn’t quite what he hoped to do.

“I’ve always liked farming. I figured if I could play with tractors all day for a living, that would be pretty fun,” Meshew said. “However, after my first week at ATI, I realized it was my passion. We had already gone out to the corn field, met the seed salesmen, and then ran equipment in class.”

While attending 91�� ATI, Meshew posted in the Wooster Insider Facebook group asking if any local farmers needed some help. Specifically, Meshew asked to do work that involved running a tractor.

“I had quite a few people call me and offer me jobs milking cows, but that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I said I would even work for free as long as I got to be in a tractor,” Meshew said.

Seth Houser of Houser Custom Harvesting based in Wayne County took Meshew up on the offer. Meshew stopped by to visit Houser one day, and two hours later, he was running a grain cart for the crew. Meshew graduated with his associate’s degree in 2022 at the young age of 18. He spent time running his lawn care business and helping out Houser during the busy seasons. His time spent in a grain cart in Ohio got him thinking about heading for larger fields in the West.

“Without my parents knowing, I made a post on the US Custom Harvester Facebook page looking for crews that were hiring,” Meshew said. “I went to shower, checked my phone, and had 20 companies wanting to interview me. One of those offers was from Danielski Farms. When I talked to the Danielskis about my physical disabilities, I told them that the main thing was I couldn’t turn a wrench and that I needed a device to help me run the equipment. They said it wasn’t a problem at all.”

Due to his CMT, Meshew has limited mobility in his right hand and right arm. However, adaptive devices like spinner knobs help him do everyday tasks, like driving his truck or, in this case, operating a tractor. He had never left home before but knew it was something he wanted to do. Meshew left in April 2023 to start his new job in Valentine, Neb.

“There’s a lot you don’t think about when you’re preparing to live on your own, but I think I did pretty well. I liked learning how to become independent,” Meshew said. “This job has been monumental for me.”

Meshew started by doing spring tillage work for a few months in Nebraska, getting accustomed to the job and the equipment. When summer rolled around, the harvest crew expanded and began to work across Oklahoma for wheat harvest.

“Combines in Oklahoma do Kansas corners, where your combine head never comes out of the crop, so there’s always a bit left behind. So, you are running the steering by hand in a circle, then go back and get the corners. It was definitely challenging to run the grain cart with hand steering while the combine is also hand steering,” Meshew said.

From Oklahoma, the crew headed south.

“My favorite part was definitely working on the King Ranch in Texas for five weeks. We harvested 28,000 acres. The smallest field we worked in was 600 acres, and the biggest was around 4,000 acres,” Meshew said. “I got to see milo, a crop we don’t grow much here in Ohio. We also harvested popcorn, which was pretty neat.”

While initially intimidated, Meshew got the hang of the job and really enjoyed it.

“I was kind of familiar with farming, having grown up in Wayne County and reading things in magazines or seeing it on YouTube, but this was a new look at the industry. Without growing up on a farm, I think it was good for me because I had fresh eyes on the operation and had no bad habits,” Meshew said.

After seven months of long days and plenty of hours in the tractor cab, Meshew returned home to Wooster in mid-November.

“I am very grateful to Danielski Farms for allowing me to do the job. They could’ve very easily said, ‘No, I don’t want to deal with that.’ They gave me the chance, and I proved myself,” Meshew said.

Meshew helped harvest a variety of crops over thousands of acres for Nebraska-based Danielski Farms. Photo provided by Meshew.

Meshew hopes to head back West again soon to continue his career in agriculture. His passion for the industry and his initiative to learn more have helped him land some exciting job opportunities. For now, he’s enjoying time with family and helping with the non-profit organization his family founded, Hunt For Hope. The organization takes kids with illnesses or disabilities on once-in-a-lifetime, all expenses paid 3-day hunting trips (including clothing, tags, processing, equipment, lodging and meals for the hunter and their family) in Ohio, a hobby that Meshew enjoys.

In all he does, Meshew keeps his focus on the task at hand and not his potential limitations.

“I try not to think too much about my CMT. I keep on moving,” Meshew said. “I live life to the fullest. I would say I am driven. If I want to do something, I will figure out how to do it.”

91�� ATI Students jumpstart their career through The Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale

mastellar.1@osu.edu — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 17:07:54 +0000

By Cassandra A. Mavis, third year Agribusiness and Applied Economics Major

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Most Ohioans are familiar with the network of alumni from 91��. But, they probably do not know the “four-legged alumni” that graduated from 91�� Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI).

These four-legged alumni are Standardbred horses trained by 91�� ATI students in the Equine Marketing class. Students work with their horses for a half semester class. At the end of the course, they sell the horses at the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale.

The sale took place on Oct. 10 in Springfield, OH at the Champions Center Expo. Over 200 Standardbred yearlings were sold, including the horses from 91�� ATI. The yearlings sold for an average of $5,100 with 2 selling for $8,000 in the 2023 sale.

“I was pretty happy with the work the students put into marketing their horses” said the professor of the course, Sara Mastellar, Ph.D. She said that this year, all nine of her students attended the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale.

Many of these horses will end up being racehorses. They will race at county fairs across the state. “The Standardbred industry is well established in Ohio” said Mastellar.

Some horses could even end up racing at Ohio’s premier racing event, the Little Brown Jug. The Little Brown Jug is a harness racing event. It is the oldest race in the Pacing Triple Crown.

Carmen Corcoran, a student in the Equine Marketing class, had the highest selling horse from 91�� ATI this year. Her horse’s “genetics and calm demeanor also helped in his selling, as it showed the work I put into him” said Carmen. “I am very proud that all my hard work over the last half of the semester paid off.”

The horses are not the only 91�� alumni that benefit from the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale. Students benefit greatly from their participation in this event.

Selling horses at the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale has the potential to make a real impact on students’ careers said Mastellar. “Students make a lot of connections at the sale and sometimes are also then hired to sale prep at other sales.”

Students train the horses in a variety of ways to prepare the horses for the sale. They also develop skills outside of the arena. This gives them an overall understanding of equine sales and industry practices.

“The students work with the horses on their skills and manners so they can be successful when they travel to the sale” said Mastellar. This prepares the horses to handle auction atmospheres and helps them handle a variety of environments they could encounter after being sold. Students also practice leading horses over different surfaces and use different grooming methods on them.

Outside of the arena, students develop promotional materials including ads and videos. Many of the videos are available on the 91�� ATI Equine Center Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ATIEquineCenter). Participation in these activities help students be as well-rounded as they can be before entering the workforce.

Overall, Mastellar and the students were satisfied with the outcome of the sale. Whether it is students like Carmen, or a horse that ends up at the Little Brown Jug, the Equine Marketing class and the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale provide valuable experience to jumpstart all alumni careers, even the four legged ones.

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ATI Equine Center

equine

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ATI Dairy Club Invitational Contest Results

ATI General Livestock Judging Contest Results

ATI General Livestock Judging Contest Results

Learning by Leading: ATI Students Bring Their Equine Workshop to Life

Learning by Leading: ATI Students Bring Their Equine Workshop to Life

What to expect?

Presenters

Showcasing ATI’s Stallions and Breeding Program

Stations

Get to Know the Future of the Equine Industry

Hear from the students yourself!

Why are you excited for this event?

How do you think this event will impact the school or community?

What’s something people wouldn’t realize goes into planning an event like this?

Has planning this event changed how you see leadership or teamwork?

Dairy Club Invitational Dairy Judging Contest

91���� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest

91���� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest

Buckeyes Excel students explored the Columbus campus on Oct. 23rd

ATI kicks off 2025 Equine Pasture Walk Series

Equine marketing class travels to 2024 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale

Of tractors and triumph: The ag adventure of Cooper Meshew

91���� ATI Students jumpstart their career through The Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale

91�� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest

91�� ATI Hoof-N-Hide Club General Livestock Judging Contest

91�� ATI Students jumpstart their career through The Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale