ONE-ON-ONE | Ernie Oelker Columbiana County extension agent enjoys the simple life

You grew up on a farm. What are your feelings about farming as a way of life?
We owned a small dairy farm in Columbiana County, near Hanoverton, and milked about 40 cows for 11 years. So, my kids were raised on the farm. Farming is a great way of life in terms of family being together. Children have many opportunities to learn about life and work alongside their parents, and they also get a perspective of life and death that is unique.
What is the best thing you like about Columbiana County?
Well, there are 130 dairy herds in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, so this is a good place for me to be. I like the rural character of Columbiana County and the open space. I love the lay of the land. It's a beautiful county.
What do you like best about your job?
Working one-on-one with farmers. I enjoy helping people. That's what we're all about. Besides my degrees, I have 25 years in the school of hard knocks. Experience is invaluable, especially in relating to people and the ability to understand what they're dealing with.
What is the most difficult part of your job?
The uncertainty of budget. No matter how well I do, how hard I work or how much impact I have, the opportunity to stay and work in a county is driven by the county operating budget.
Who has most influenced your life?
My children have had a tremendous influence on my life and represent my greatest achievement in life.
Who are your heroes?
Norman Berlaug is one. He's a plant breeder and researcher in Texas who developed varieties of wheat that would thrive and produce in India. He instituted the green revolution in the 1960s and won the Nobel Peace prize. He has had an unparalleled influence on global agriculture, and is a very strong advocate of extension work.
Who would you like to have breakfast with, of anyone who's ever lived, and why?
Cal Ripken Jr. Not because he's a great baseball player but because he's a genuine outstanding individual. I wouldn't talk to him about baseball, I would talk to him about life. How did he handle everything and stay focused? How did he keep from being taken down by all the quick money schemes, the glitz and the glory?
Any religious philosophy?
My mother always taught me to be nice to everyone and treat people with respect. I guess that's not really a religious philosophy, but I've always tried to do that.
Your pet peeve?
One of my favorite pet peeves is how people idolize mediocrity; how people make heroes out of people who have a gimmick. Another is people who derive satisfaction from mimicking successful people. Elvis impersonators are at the top of the list. People don't recognize or appreciate truly talented people. They'll pass right over them for the light shows and gimmicks.
What do you like to read?
I especially like real-life adventure stories. One that stands out is "Into Thin Air" by John Krakauer. It's about the tragedy on Mount Everest in 1997.
When you're not working, what would people find you doing?
I enjoy gardening. I have a lovely companion and we enjoy gardening. There's a lot of flowers around the house.
What do you do to have fun?
I like to go groundhog hunting.
Do you hunt groundhogs just to reduce the population, or to eat them?
To reduce the population, and just because I enjoy being out there. Some people eat them. I don't.
Your favorite all-time vacation?
My favorite was spending a day on Mount St. Helens to see the new visitor center and tour the area after the 1980 [volcano] eruption. Someday I hope to take the inside passage from Seattle to Anchorage and spend a month in Alaska.
Your favorite kind of food?
Ice cream. No hesitation there.
Your favorite area restaurant?
The Iron Bridge on state Route 19 south of Mercer. I like their French onion soup. Their's is at the top of the list.
Your all-time favorite movie?
I don't think I can pick one. There's only four or five movies I've ever watched more than once. "The Sound of Music" has to rate up there high. "Dances With Wolves" was a really great one.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Bluegrass. In fact I spent years with a bluegrass band, playing acoustic bass. I play guitar now, mostly.
Your favorite musical performer?
Allison Krauss and her band, Union Station.
What do you watch on TV?
I like to watch WNBA. It's far more entertaining and competitive than the NBA. I enjoy college basketball and college football. I don't care for sitcoms. You can't pay me to watch them.