Ohio first lady, Department of Agriculture accepting nominations for 2012 Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Awards

Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich and Ohio Agriculture Director David T. Daniels have announced they are now accepting nominations for the 2012 Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Awards.

The award program is administered through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Office of the First Lady. The 2012 recipients will be announced at the Ohio State Fair.

"Director Daniels and I are excited for the opportunity to honor the impact of Ohio women on our state’s largest industry," said Mrs. Kasich, who announced the creation of the award during last year’s fair. "We are looking forward to what we hope becomes an annual Ohio State Fair tradition for many years to come."

Nominations will be submitted online and reviewed by a diverse committee of industry leaders. Winners will be selected on the basis of their outstanding contributions to Ohio agriculture, leadership and advocacy in the agricultural community and significant impact on the agriculture industry as a whole.

Recipients will be recognized at the Ohio State Fair on First Lady’s Day, July 27, 2012. Each awardee will receive her name engraved on a plaque for permanent display in the Rhodes Building at the state fairgrounds, a commendation from the Governor and First Lady and all will be named honorary Ohio First Ladies for the day. Recipients may also serve as members of the selection committee the following year.

"I’ve been blessed to work with many amazing women during a lifetime involved in agriculture," Daniels said, "Their outstanding efforts too often go unrecognized. I am excited to work with Ohio’s First Lady, Karen Kasich, to kick off this annual recognition of the contributions of Ohio’s women in agriculture."

Nomination materials are available online at www.ohioagriculture.gov.