The New 4-H Center at OSU

Nationwide Foundation and Ohio Farm Bureau pledged more than $6 million toward a new 4-H building on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus and in January 2008 the staff began moving in. From OSU Extension, Jan. 3, 2008:

“The new Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center has opened, with two dozen faculty, staff and student workers beginning their move into new offices on Jan. 2. The center was built to the specifications of the national LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program and is the first "green" building on the campus of Ohio State University. It is located at 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, across from the Schottenstein Center."

And I missed it. I think because during its building phase I was using the Ackerman temporary location for the OSU Libraries, and wasn't using Fred Taylor Drive to go to the Agriculture Library where I'd been picking up my paged books. Today I saw an item about it. Quite a change from the little office I remember on Fyffe Road for 4-H and Extension in the same building where I worked as the Agricultural Economics Bibliographer from 1978-1981 on a USAID grant to build a collection on agricultural credit in 3rd world countries.

While I was browsing all its "green" and "sustainable" features (LEED), I clicked over to the Farm Bureau site (very handsome, btw) and browsed some recipes. Here's one from the vegetarian section.

Eggplant sandwich

1 small eggplant, peeled, sliced into ½ inch thick slices
1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (6-inch) French sandwich rolls
1 small tomato, sliced
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Salt eggplant slices and let them sit for 30 minutes to let the excess water drain. Blot with a paper towel. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil, and cook on grill or under broiler for 10 minutes, until tender and toasted. Split the French rolls lengthwise and toast. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and garlic. Spread this mixture on the toasted roll. Fill the rolls with eggplant slices, tomato, feta cheese and basil leaves. Serve hot.

Years ago I made an eggplant casserole, then discovered that eggplant is good only for supporting other things like cheese and tomato sauce because it has no useful nutritional value or taste. So if you make this, and it does sound tasty, you'll have to rely on whatever is in the bread, olive oil, cheese, tomato and mayo to fuel your engine.

Ah, the 4-H memories. Were you a member? I'm sure it's very different today, and even 60 years ago was different for groups made from town, or farm or city kids. I think I joined in Forreston (pop. 1,000) because my sisters were members and I always wanted to imitate what they were doing. Not only did you have useful projects--sewing, cooking, raising animals, art, home maintenance, decorating--but you learned to give oral presentations to explain your project to your local club and leaders, far more complex than anything done in school. Agricultural extension/Cooperative extension are the original "continuing education," and should go down in history as a very useful government program which benefited many. When Congress created the Cooperative Extension Service at USDA in 1914, it included boys' and girls' club work. This soon became known as 4-H clubs - Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

Photo from Arizona 4-H archives.