Pickaway Agricultural Hall of Fame To Welcome Two New Members in 2025

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(Circleville) – The Pickaway County Community Foundation in partnership with the Pickaway County Commissioners have announced the 2025 inductees into the Pickaway County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees are Leo Metzger and Loring Valentine. The induction will take place at the 10th Anniversary Farm to Plate, September 4th at 5:30pm inside AMVETS. In addition to the inductees the event features Chef Alfonso Contrisciani of Oliver Farms and Bob Liggett, the 2024 Circleville Pumpkin Show Giant Pumpkin Winner.

For tickets and more information, visit: https://yourpccf.ejoinme.org/…/tabid/1551472/Default.aspx

More on the inductees:

Leo Metzger, along with his brother Myron, built and operated a highly successful farming operation spanning numerous acres in Pickaway and Ross counties. Leo was known as a forward thinker and innovator. His ingenuity led him to design and build agricultural components that were later adopted by major farm equipment manufacturers. His innovations helped advance farming practices for countless growers, making operations more productive and efficient.

Leo was known as a mentor, friend and, for many people, a father figure. His kindness, grace, and generosity were matched only by his sharp mind and relentless curiosity.

Leo was not only an excellent farmer, but he was also an accomplished pianist. Leo and his wife Paula played the piano for countless occasions including weddings, funerals and other community events throughout the years. His spirit lives on through Lake Leo, a backyard sanctuary he created that reflects his love of nature, his engineering brilliance, and his desire to share beauty and joy with others.

Loring E. Valentine was a lifelong resident of Circleville and Pickaway County. A former farmer, he started the Blue Ribbon Dairy with a family partnership with Porter Martin on April 1, 1935, in Circleville, Ohio. Using facilities at the rear of Mr. Valentine’s home, a cement frame building was erected to house the new business venture.

Milk was brought into town in the morning, pasteurized, bottled and delivered to customers by noon and was on shelves by the afternoon. Deliveries were made using horse drawn wagons.

The dairy went through many expansions in different locations over the years and with the help of the Valentine and Martin family members, the business continued operating successfully until it was sold.

The Blue Ribbon Dairy provided employment to many people in Circleville while providing pasteurized milk to Circleville residents during the infancy of the modern dairy industry.