The Ohio State University Extension recently announced the promotion of two Noble County Educators, Christine Gelley to Educator III and Gwynn Stewart to Educator IV. Along with other Extension Educators across the state, the Noble duo earned a promotion in rank effective Sept. 1. Each of these individuals either met or exceeded the criteria for promotion.

Gelley has served as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator in the Noble County Office since 2016. Gelley is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she studied Horticulture, Agronomy, and Natural Resource Management. She also has a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. Her focus of study there was Forage Quality and Management of Warm-Season Grasses.

Through their roles in Extension, Stewart and Gelley are members of many community and professional organizations and committees. The relationships built through these avenues allow for a variety of collaborative projects and educational programs to be implemented in Noble County that strengthen the social, agricultural, and business networks that support the community, region and state.

Gelley currently serves as the Vice President of the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council (OFGC), which is Ohio’s grassroots affiliate of the national association. In addition, she serves on the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA) Board in representation of the Ohio Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP), where she co-chairs multiple education and outreach committees. Gelley also serves as the communications committee chair for the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) and is a member of the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP).

Within the university system, Gelley serves as co-leader of the OSU Sheep Team and OSU Forage Team and is a contributing member to the OSU Beef, Agronomic Crops, and Extension Energy Outreach Teams. She also hosts a monthly video series that airs on television and YouTube called Forage Focus.

Locally, Gelley is the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator, a member of Noble County Farm Bureau, Noble County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Brookfield Homemakers Club. She also serves on advisory committees to Noble Local Schools, The Noble Learning Center, and The Eastern Agricultural Research Station.

Stewart has served as the Community Development Educator in Noble County since 2018. She is a graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Public Relations and a specialization in Sociology and earned a master’s degree in Marketing and Communications from Franklin University.

Stewart is a member of the International Economic Development Council, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) where serves as the President of the Ohio Chapter and on the national communications committee. She is also a member of Ohio JCEP and its Marketing Committee.

She is also a member of the Ohio Byway Links serving as Secretary, the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturing Coalition, Secretary of the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance Board, the Noble County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Noble County Planning Commission, serving as Secretary, Noble County CARES and the Noble Local Business Advisory Council.

Within the university, Stewart serves as a contributing member to the OSU Extension Energy Program, and the Coal Community Research, IMPLAN Economic Modeling, Business Retention and Expansion and Building an Entrepreneur Friendly Community Teams.

As a volunteer, Stewart serves as a founding member of the Monroe County Community Foundation, as a member of the Baker Foundation board, as a Trustee and grant writer for the Monroe Arts Council Board.

Learn more about Ohio State University Extension services and programs in Noble County at www.noble.osu.edu or at www.facebook.com/osuenoble.