The Licking County Agricultural Hall of Fame was established to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated a life-long exemplary service to their community and the industry of agriculture.
Nominations
Nominations may be made by any individual or organization by completing a nomination form and returning it to The Ohio State University Extension, Attn: Licking County Hall of Fame Committee, 771 E. Main St., Suite 103, Newark, OH 43055. Nominations forms can also be emailed to the OSU Licking County Extension Office at kreager.5@osu.edu.
Licking County Agricultural Hall of Fame Nomination Form
The deadline for nominations is December 31st.
2020 Inductee
Mr. Phil Watts
Phil Watts graduated from Granville High School and began farming in the 1970’s with 70 acres. He also began working for Granville Milling in 1978. Thanks to great management and top notch people around him, Phil has expanded both of these enterprises. The contributions to agriculture in Licking County through these businesses have been great. On a daily basis, Phil is a trusted advisor to many Licking County farmers in the areas of business management, agronomy consultation, grain merchandising, and livestock management/marketing. Phil’s contributions don’t stop with the businesses, as he is a great supporter of 4-H and FFA youth and has hosted and assisted with many educational activities.
Watts Farm
Since starting the farm on 70 acres, Watts Farm has expanded to production on 2,500 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat. They also have a cattle feeding operation where they finish 2,000 head of Holstein steers a year. The expansion has happened while maintaining itself as a true family farm thanks to the involvement of family members. Without this help, Phil would not be able to devote the time necessary to make Granville Milling the successful operation it is.
Granville Milling Co.
Since beginning working for Granville Milling Co. in 1978, Phil has become the majority shareholder and president of this employee owned company. Phil attributes the success to maintaining a great group of employees. They provide grain services, agronomy and custom application services, and feed and retail services. This business has expanded and now includes five locations.
Past Recipients
| RECIPIENTS | YEAR |
| Warren Shaw, Willis Fravel, Robert Martin | 1994 |
| Melvin Foor, Charles Arnold | 1995 |
| Roger Smith, Jesse VanFossen | 1996 |
| Orville Felumlee, Richard Black | 1997 |
| William Arter, John E. Hankinson | 1998 |
| Merle Scheetz, Charles Sands | 1999 |
| P.E. Grubb, Frank Clever | 2000 |
| Clayton Oyler, Henry Whitehead | 2001 |
| Lester Mitchell, Lawrence Clark | 2002 |
| Duane Debolt, James Elder | 2003 |
| Marcie Williams, Eugene Branstool | 2004 |
| Albert & Shirley Ashbrook, Enyart T. Denman | 2005 |
| Phil & Donna Shipley | 2006 |
| Jay N. Baird | 2008 |
| Robert Jones, James Conrad | 2009 |
| Marion Martin, Jack Debolt | 2010 |
| Carol Beem, James Hoover | 2011 |
| William Gilmore, Jim Heimerl | 2012 |
| Lynn Hatfield, Skip Salome | 2013 |
| Danny VanFossen, Jesse VanFossen | 2014 |
| Richard E. Hoar, L.E. & Mary Jane Thompson | 2015 |
| John Mitchell Lynd, WIlliam M. Wright | 2016 |
| Donald D. Williams, Joseph E. Stevenson | 2017 |
| Roger L. Pickering, Rodney J. Newell, Ronald E. Thompson | 2018 |
| Timothy Reichert, Rodney Kissel | 2019 |
| * No 2007 Inductees |
Many Thanks to Our 2020 Sponsors!
EVENT SPONSORS
Licking County Professional Agrarians
Park National Bank
Trillium Farms
VIP TABLE SPONSORS
The Energy Cooperative
Farm Credit Mid-America
Granville Milling, Co.
Huntington National Bank
Licking County Soil & Water
PROGRAM SPONSORS
Coshocton Soy Processing
Diamond Hill Farm LTD
Heartland Bank
Heimerl Farms LTD
H.W. Martin & Son Co.
Licking County Farm Bureau
Rick Black, Licking County Commissioner
Tim Bubb, Licking County Commissioner
Williams Farms LP / Don & Marcie Williams
Winding Trails Maple Syrup: Jim Kiracofe