Oct. 2 run/walk to be held at Secrest Arboretum
The Bethel Agricultural Association will host a 5k/10k run/walk fundraiser with the theme of “Running for Agricultural Resilience in Africa” on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. in Wooster.
Ethiopia is often listed as one of the poorest countries in the world. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, locust swarms and civil war, there has been a great increase in food insecurity. Recent reports indicate food shortages in Ethiopia are the worst the world has seen in the past decade or more.
A local emeritus professor at the Ohio State University and OARDC has used his international agricultural experience to found a nonprofit organization called Bethel Agricultural Association. BAA started from the vision of Dr. Warren Dick to build an agricultural and environmental university and training center in Woliso, Ethiopia.
To fulfill the vision of BAA, efforts and funds are required over the long haul, which is why it will host a 5k/10k run/walk fundraiser with the theme of “Running for Agricultural Resilience in Africa” on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. Walk or run through the Secrest Arboretum and the Ohio State University Wooster campus OARDC or join the event virtually. Invite friends and family to make it a family outing. Participants also can invite friends or family members to sponsor them.
Because of a rapidly increasing population and land degradation, food insecurity has become a major problem in Ethiopia, and due to recent events, food insecurity is worsening. Agriculture is the foundation of Ethiopia’s economy, and there is great potential in improving self-sufficiency in the production of many agricultural products.
BAA has acquired 30 acres of land for the university and training center and has already held several workshops for farmers, agricultural professionals and community leaders. The university and training center will provide educational opportunities including hands-on learning with a demonstration farm and foster international links in teaching and research.
It has been said, “Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.” According to Dick, this is only partially true because teaching technology is often much simpler than teaching concepts of sustainability. While technology is important in improving food production in Africa, if it is improperly applied, the end result can be land degradation and other negative impacts that actually lead to even greater negative impacts.
To register to race or to submit a sponsorship, visit the Mid Ohio Race Management registration page at https://bit.ly/3scJCil. Day-of registration will be available onsite. Participants will receive goodie bags and have the option to get a T-shirt with registration. To ensure a T-shirt with registration, register by the end of the day on Sept. 19. Awards will be given to top runners and the participants with the most sponsorship support.
Join BAA in developing a university and training center that will serve as a resource for Ethiopians to move toward a vibrant and thriving environmental and agricultural landscape by #RunningforAgriculturalResilienceInAfrica. The fundraising focus for the 5k/10k run/walk is on BAA’s next project: first, to construct a building with guest rooms to serve visitors and a computer/reading room to serve as an initial library that will provide resources such as scanners, internet access and books/materials that have been donated, and second, to construct a dining/kitchen building to support teams staying at the BAA project site for programs such as workshops.
To learn more about BAA’s history and its current project activities, visit the BAA website at www.bethelagriculture.org or find BAA on social media as Bethel Agricultural Association Inc. on Facebook and LinkedIn or @BethelAg_USA on Twitter.