2025 Agricultural Hall of Fame

The Mahoning County Agricultural Society Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be Wednesday, August 27^th at 11 am on concourse stage.

This program was formed to identify and recognize the many individuals who have provided their time and talents to enhance the industry and develop the agricultural community through education and service, be they farmers, farm couples or partnerships, educators, or agricultural leaders who have had a positive effect on the growth and enhancements of Mahoning County agriculture and beyond.

Questions can be directed to the Canfield Fair office at P.O. Box 250, Canfield, Ohio 44406 or by calling 330-533-4107

The 2025 Recipients are listed below.

Edward & Charles Barth

Ed and Charles Barth were more than just farmers; they were visionaries. Quiet, progressive men dedicated to their church and family, they believed in the value of hard work, often toiling from "sun up to sun down" to grow their operation. The farm, established in 1928, began as a traditional wheat and dairy operation but evolved to focus on poultry, crops, and potatoes.

Their venture into the turkey business started humbly, with the brothers’ dressing birds by hand for local orders. This simple business quickly blossomed, and Barth Farms eventually grew to raise nearly 50,000 turkeys and chickens each year to meet public demand. While they were innovators in crop production, growing corn, wheat, oats and potatoes, it was their Barth Farms Fresh Turkeys that made them a household name. They were pioneers in vertical integration, raising and processing their birds on the farm to ensure they were always fresh, never frozen, for the Thanksgiving and Christmas markets. This farm-to-table model was one of the first in the Tri-State area.

Ed and Charles were smart, hardworking men of deep faith who never sought fame. They successfully grew their business in a time before modern technology, constantly adapting and improving their methods to meet the needs of a growing market.

Larry & Kathy Bennett

For over 80 years, Bennett's Greenhouse was a pillar of the Greenford, Ohio, community, with Larry and Kathy Bennett serving as its third-generation owners. The business began as an orchard, sponsored victory gardens, and eventually specialized in growing vegetables and flowers. They were particularly famous for their red geraniums for Memorial Day and their poinsettias at Christmas.

Larry and Kathy were deeply involved in their community. Larry dedicated countless hours to mentoring other greenhouse owners and furthering horticulture education in area schools. His "Best Practices" in horticulture were revered by growers throughout Ohio and neighboring states. Kathy was equally active, sharing her talents with various agricultural groups including the Mahoning County Agricultural Society and the Farm and Dairy publication. Kathy always served as a willing leader or follower.

For more than two decades, their hard work paid off: Bennett's Greenhouse became the largest producer of poinsettias between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The couple's passion for horticulture and their commitment to the business made their greenhouse one of the most profitable in the entire state and region.