The Upper Sandusky FFA team took 13th place out of 38 teams and 244 individuals in the state forestry career development event Oct. 3 at Hocking College, Nelsonville. This is the second year Upper Sandusky has participated in the forestry CDE and all the members did well, adviser Anna Creswell said in a press release.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Steven Maurer is reminding agricultural producers that FSA provides a receipt to customers who request or receive assistance or information on FSA programs.

COLUMBUS — More than 15,000 ring-necked pheasants will be released at 25 Ohio public hunting areas this fall to provide additional hunting opportunities across the state, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Change was the topic of this year’s Wyandot County soils contest for agriculture students from Carey, Upper Sandusky, Riverdale and Mohawk. The predominate change was made for the rural judging category in determining soil textures.

Ohio drivers are nearly 3.1 percent less likely to collide with a deer than they were last year, according to new claims data from State Farm. The odds drivers will hit a deer in Ohio are 1 out of 131, above the national odds of 1 in 169.

ATHENS — Access to some public hunting lands in southeast Ohio have changed, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and hunters are encouraged to check with the landowners of both public and private lands each year before traveling to their hunting locations.

BUCYRUS — The Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District celebrated 70 years of conservation at the Sept. 15 annual meeting. The SWCD and Crawford County Farm Bureau held a combined meeting this year.

The Wyandot County Farm Service Agency has announced candidates who have been nominated in Local Administrative Area 1 to serve as a committee member. They are Brent Frobose, Donna L. Tschanen, Richard D. Huston and Timothy Allen Baum. LAA No. 1 consists of Crawford, Ridge, Sycamore and Tymochtee townships.

FINDLAY — A one-time drawing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 for trapping in the wildlife refuge on the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The drawing will take place at the Killdeer Plains check station, located at 19100 CH 115, Harpster.

COLUMBUS — Hunters will have their first opportunity to pursue white-tailed deer when archery season opens Sept. 26, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Deer hunters should be aware of certain changes when purchasing permits before heading into the field this year.