Agriculture Hall of Fame Bowman, Crosser to be inducted

Staff report

LISBON

The Columbiana County Agriculture Hall of Fame will induct the late Harry W. Bowman of Elkrun Township, and Zada Crosser of Hanover Township, on July 30 during the opening ceremonies of the Columbiana County Fair

Bowman (1908-1979) was born on the family farm in Elkrun Township, and became the fourth generation to farm the Bowman homestead, living and working there his entire life.

He and his wife, Kathryn, built Bowman’s Dairy, bottling and selling their own milk.

An excellent farm manager, Bowman eagerly embraced new technology, transitioning his herd from hand milking to bucket milking, then to a milking parlor. He was also an early adopter of artificial insemination and also adapted to hybrid seeds.

He served on the Columbiana County and Beaver Local school district boards, and was also a member of the Lisbon Ruritan Club, the Columbiana County Farm Bureau and Elkrun Township Farm Bureau Council.

Crosser (1922-2009) grew up on a Fairfield Township dairy farm, and she and her husband, Clarence, later operated a farm in Hanover Township.

She was a teacher at United Local Schools, a leader within the Lisbon Grange for more than 50 years, was active in the Columbiana County Farm Bureau and Dairy Boosters and was president of the Columbiana-Mahoning County Guernsey Breeders Association.