2026 Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame Honorees Announced

Hardin County – Inductees for the 2026 Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame have been selected by the Hall of Fame committee. The 2026 inductees will include Coda S. Turner (posthumously), Nevin Taylor, and Jeffrey D. Wilson (posthumously).

The awards banquet will take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Building on the Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 Letson Avenue, Kenton, Ohio 43326. The purpose of the county Agriculture Hall of Fame is to recognize outstanding agricultural contributions by Hardin County people and to honor those who have brought distinction to themselves and the agricultural industry.

The public is invited to attend the banquet and celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s inductees. Tickets are $20 per person and may be reserved through the Ohio State University Extension office in Hardin County by calling 419-674-2297. Reservations must be made by November 20, 2026.

The evening will also feature a fireside chat with Edison Klingler, a 2007 Hall of Fame inductee and retired Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator.

Coda S. Turner was a successful farmer in Buck Township whose leadership helped shape the modern Hardin County Fair. Turner served as a director of the Hardin County Agricultural Society from 1942 until 1977, the longest tenure of any director during that era.

Following the reactivation of the Hardin County Fair in 1940, Turner was instrumental in planning and developing the county fairgrounds that residents continue to enjoy today. As vice president of the Fair Board and a member of the building committee, he helped guide the construction of livestock barns, the arena, the 4-H and machinery building, the merchants building, racehorse barns, the grandstand, roads, and numerous other facilities between 1947 and 1953.

Turner was known for recognizing the community effort behind the fairgrounds development. He often remarked that “Hardin County built it,” reflecting his appreciation for the many volunteers who contributed labor and resources. He also served as superintendent of the dairy cattle department and remained a strong advocate for 4-H and FFA programs, believing that youth were the foundation of the county fair. Turner was a member of the National Ayrshire Association, the Hardin County Farm Bureau Council, and Wolf Creek Methodist Church. His vision, leadership, and commitment to agriculture continue to leave a lasting mark on Hardin County.

Nevin Taylor has devoted more than four decades to agricultural education, youth development, and agricultural leadership throughout Ohio. A graduate of Kenton Senior High School and The Ohio State University, Taylor taught agricultural education at several schools, including Marysville, Garaway, Liberty-Benton, and Fairbanks. During his career, he influenced countless students through agricultural education, FFA programs, and leadership development opportunities.

Taylor’s commitment to agriculture extended far beyond the classroom. He served as president of the Ohio Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, spent 31 years as superintendent of the FFA exhibits at the Ohio State Fair, served 29 years on the Union County Fair Board, and provided leadership on statewide educational and agricultural committees. His efforts helped strengthen agricultural education programs and improve opportunities for students across Ohio.

Among his numerous honors, Taylor has been inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame. However, he considers the accomplishments of his students to be his greatest success. Throughout his career, students under his guidance earned national proficiency awards, state and American FFA Degrees, and many went on to become agricultural educators and leaders themselves. Taylor’s dedication to teaching, mentoring, and promoting agriculture has impacted generations of Ohio youth.

The late Jeffrey D. Wilson dedicated his life to agriculture as both a farmer and an educator. A graduate of Hardin Northern High School and The Ohio State University, Wilson spent 33 years as an agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Arlington High School while also helping manage and improve his family farming operation. He believed strongly in helping students understand the importance of agriculture and worked tirelessly to provide meaningful educational experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

Wilson organized educational trips to the Chicago Board of Trade, the Farm Science Review, the Ohio State Fair, and state and national FFA conventions. He expanded educational opportunities by incorporating skills such as welding, small engine repair, trailer operation, greenhouse management, and veterinary science into his programs. During his teaching career, Arlington students earned 42 State FFA Degrees and 21 American FFA Degrees, a testament to his commitment to student success.

Beyond education, Wilson was known as a servant leader who volunteered throughout his community. He improved and maintained family farms in Washington and Cessna townships, served as a trustee of Walnut Grove Methodist Church, worked with the OSU Agricultural Advisory Committee, and frequently helped friends, neighbors, and fellow farmers with projects and repairs. His kindness, work ethic, and willingness to help others made a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. Wilson’s legacy lives on through the many students, families, and agricultural professionals whose lives he touched throughout his career.

The 2026 inductees represent the rich tradition of agricultural excellence found throughout Hardin County. Through their leadership, service, innovation, and dedication to helping others, Coda S. Turner, Nevin Taylor, and Jeffrey D. Wilson have each made significant contributions to agriculture and their communities. Their achievements will be recognized and celebrated as they are inducted into the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame.