We are pleased to announce that Chris Zoller will be the Interim Assistant Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources, effective December 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, or until the permanent position is filled.

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1991, and a Master of Science degree in agriculture in 1997. He currently serves as Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources in Tuscarawas County, where he conducts programming in farm management, farm succession planning, farm financial management, dairy and livestock production, and agronomic and forage crop production.

Chris conducts research in the areas of farm management, agronomic crop production, and energy demand monitoring of livestock facilities. He has researched and conducted analysis of farm production, evaluated variable seeding rates of corn and soybeans, and is a member of a team evaluating energy use on livestock farms.

In his new role, he will provide leadership, administration, guidance, and vision to OSU Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources program while managing the Agriculture and Natural Resources state office including financial and human resources oversight.

We are also pleased to announce that Christine Kendle will be transitioning to the county 4-H Youth Development Educator position beginning January 1, 2024.

Chris earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology in 2000, and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition in 2002, both from The Ohio State University. She is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian, earning those distinctions in 2002 from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. She currently serves as Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) in Tuscarawas County, where she conducts programming in food safety and ServSafe training, food preservation, Dining with Diabetes, Fit Youth Initiative Community Summer Walking Program, parenting, personal finances, and guidance to the county 4-H FCS related project area and the county 4-H camping experiences.

In addition to the 4-H Educator position, Chris will continue in her role as Area Leader/Area 14, providing leadership to Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas counties. Area leaders act as operational guides, performance coaches, and connectors for impacts between counties, across the state, and with university resources. They also facilitate implementation of the stewardship model in each county. The area leaders also supervise all employees at the local level within their assigned area, with the exception of SNAP-Ed. She was chosen to be an area leader due to her strong reputation for educational programming and consistently high annual performance, managerial competencies, vision for supporting Extension colleagues, and her ability to be an excellent steward of local funding.