The Ben Stinner Endowment for Healthy Agroecosystems
and Sustainable Communities

Many of you remember our friend, colleague and the first Kellogg-endowed Chairholder, Ben Stinner. We’ve established an endowment in his name and encourage you to consider supporting his work through a contribution.

Like our meeting,
life is then short, so
let us give only to each the best right now.
I ask only to be made a gift
for this land from which I grew.
Keep this promise and let me come
now into sweet rest so I can grow again
through you and the land on where we stand.

~ Ben Stinner (1954-2004)
 

In this prophetic poem, Ben Stinner speaks to us of his own desire to give back to the land and his challenge to us to do the same. Those who knew Ben know what a huge impact his work had, bringing together researchers, farmers, and policy makers to effect real change in Ohio agriculture. Unfortunately, Ben’s vision of sustainability was not fully realized before his untimely death, and now it must continue through us. The Ben Stinner Endowment for Healthy Agroecosystems and Sustainable Communities seeks to extend Ben’s efforts through research on the complex ecological and social challenges facing farming today.

The purpose of the Ben Stinner Endowment for Healthy Agroecosystems and Sustainable Communities is to sustain Ben’s vision and work toward healthier agroecosystems.

An immediate need to sustain and build on Ben’s efforts is to add to his very successful work with the Agroecosystems Management Program. The Endowment will provide funds for the kind of work that Ben was so successful with: returning water quality to Sugar Creek, fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems in Wayne County, creating opportunities for Appalachian forest ecosystems in Coshocton and the Wayne National Forest, bringing agriculture back into the Cuyahoga National Park. Stakeholders and OSU faculty, staff and students involved with the topic area will also be invited to participate. Following Ben’s style, the farmers and landholders involved in the project will drive the research and engineer the solutions.

A second priority for the Endowment will be physical space that provides a focus for activities consistent with Ben’s vision. Meeting space for the collaboration between OSU faculty and external stakeholders, outreach, and teaching of agroecology, and office space for logistical support are key needs. Incorporation of ecologically efficient design with respect to energy use will allow the facility to double for demonstration.

Contribute now and double your impact! In the year and a half since its inception, the Stinner Endowment has raised over $300,000 towards the Phase I goal of $500,000, and many of you have given generously towards that goal. A limited-time matching challenge has been offered that will provide a gift of $100,000 if we are able to raise an additional $100,000 in contributions to the Stinner Endowment. We are more than halfway to the goal. Maximize the impact of your giving and help the fund meet the challenge before time runs out by making a contribution here! Designate the Stinner Endowment in the Special Instructions box. Click here to print a form and send in your contribution.