Bluffton University Receives $8,000 Stinner Summit Award

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Bluffton University and collaborative partners received $8,000 through the Ben Stinner Endowment Fund, established by Ohio State University’s Agroecosystem Management Program (AMP) to support Farm, Environment and Agriculture School Trips (FEAST), a Bluffton-led initiative connecting young people with local agriculture, environmental stewardship and food systems through hands-on educational experiences.  

FEAST was developed during the 19th Annual Stinner Summit, hosted at Bluffton University in December 2025. The summit brought together farmers, educators, environmental organizations and community members to explore the theme “Finding Common Ground: Connecting Farms, Food, and Community in the Western Lake Erie Watershed.” Through collaborative discussions, participants developed ideas for community-based projects addressing regional needs, with FEAST emerging as a local initiative. 

Bluffton University serves as the project’s fiscal agent and a primary host, partnering with Little Riley Creek Farms in Bluffton, Ohio, and other regional organizations like the OSU extension office and The Nature Conservancy, to provide educational visits for students and community groups. The initiative connects students with local agriculture and environmental education while bringing learning opportunities to Bluffton’s campus. 

Award funding helps offset the costs of transportation, meals, educational materials and support for program leaders, making these experiences more accessible to participating schools and organizations. 

“The strength of FEAST is the collaboration behind it,” said Kathy Dickson, senior director of advancement and special projects. “By bringing together Bluffton University and highlighting our nature preserve with a local farm, The Ohio State University Extension, The Nature Conservancy, Allen County Soil and Water Conservation District, schools and community groups, we are creating educational opportunities that are stronger together. These partnerships connect students with the people, places, and practices that shape our local food systems and environment. The project is more effective because we are working toward a shared goal.” 

At Little Riley Creek Farms, students and community members can learn about organic growing practices, community-supported agriculture (CSA) and the connections between food production, farming and the environment. Visits also offer opportunities to interact with farm animals and explore the relationships among soil health, ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. 

Educational programming at the Bluffton University Nature Preserve led by Dr. Jacob Buchanan, assistant professor of environmental science and M’Della Moon Endowed Chair in Botany and Environmental Science at Bluffton University, incorporates hands-on activities such as soil health investigations, vermicomposting — using worms to break down organic materials — and comparisons of different ecosystems. These activities help students connect classroom learning with real-world experiences while supporting science and environmental education standards. 

Through these visits, FEAST aims to make agricultural and environmental education more engaging and accessible while helping students better understand the connections between farms and the communities they serve. By the conclusion of the grant-funded project, organizers anticipate that approximately 1,000 students will have participated in these educational experiences. 

The initiative reflects the collaborative approach encouraged by the Stinner Summit, which brings together people with diverse expertise to develop locally led projects that support healthy agroecosystems and sustainable communities.