ONGA Fall Meeting
Saturday, September 26, 2026
The Fall Meeting of the ONGA will be on
Saturday September 26, 2026 12:00 noon and will be held at
Route Nine Co-op.
In 1972, Greg Miller and his father planted 500 chestnut seedlings in Carroll County, Ohio,
eventually leading Greg to establish the Empire Chestnut Company in 1984.
As production expanded, his wife, Diane, and kids, Amy, Quinn, and Collin, pitched in, and by 2004,
Greg began marketing chestnuts for three neighboring families.
By 2009, combined production exceeded 60,000 pounds, which surpassed Greg's processing capacity.
To manage the high volume and keep costs low, Greg, his neighbors, and a longtime colleague, Bob Stheli,
formed an agricultural cooperative consisting of five charter members which is now called Route 9 Cooperative.
Directions:
4300 Germano Rd SE
Carrollton, OH 44615
Route 9 Co-op is in the mid-eastern part of Ohio about 30 miles east of Interstate 77.
Click here for a map and more information on the Fall meeting.
ONGA Booth at the Farm Science Review
September 22-24, 2026
It's a three-day outdoor agricultural trade show
featuring a little bit of something for everyone. There
are commercial exhibits for everything from tractors to
financial services. Educational displays offer new
ideas and new answers to old problems. And there's
always an expert or two or three around from Ohio State
University, government agencies and private
industry.
ONGA has a nut tree planting at the Farm Science Review
and sets up a tent each year to educate and demostrate
nut tree cultavation.
To volunteer, contact Ray Rusmisel at
rrusmisel@hotmail.com or 740-967-0461.
Volunteers get free parking and admission to
the FSR.
Farm Science Review Website
ONGA Spring Meeting & Scion Swap
Sunday, April 26, 2026 - 12 Noon
Click here for Spring Meeting Info!
Kingwood Center
900 Park Avenue West
Mansfield, Ohio
ONGA Annual Judging Contest
To be determined at the Spring meeting
July xx, 2026
Due to the Agriculture and Horticulture building being rebuilt, we are unable to judge nut
entries
at the State Fair. We anticiapate the building being completed in 2026. We will continue
this
year
like we did last year and have a seperate meeting in July for the entries to be
judged.
So, be sure to bring your entries to the Spring meeting or get them to Vicki Rusmisel or
Joe Hietter befor July.
2026 Joint Conference of the Northern Nut Growers Association and the Chestnut Growers of America
July 31 - August 3, 2026
2026 Joint Conference of the Northern Nut Growers Association
and the Chestnut Growers of America will
be held Friday, July 31 - Monday, August 3 in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Click here for more info
In the News: The Cullman family farm was highlighted in an issue of Our Ohio magazine.
Our Ohio Magazine
Going Nuts: Nuts-a-plenty in central Ohio