CANFIELD — Five people have been named to the Mahoning County Agriculture Hall of Fame and will be inducted at 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Canfield Fair near the grandstand.

Aug. 28 is the first day of the 178th annual Canfield Fair. The five being inducted are Harvey Firestone, Roger Greenawalt, Francis and Jane Less, and Paul Myers.

HARVEY FIRESTONE

Few names are more recognizable in America than Harvey Firestone. Born in Mahoning County on Dec. 20, 1868, on his grandfather’s farm, Firestone grew up working on the family farm whenever possible. A fourth -generation farmer, Firestone was also a brilliant inventor.

Farm machinery in the early 1900s moved slowly and very rough on steel wheels. Not only were the steel wheels very rough to ride on, they also were very prone to slippage and spinning. In 1932, Firestone invented and developed the pneumatic farm tire. The “ground grip tire,” as it was known, offered a smoother ride and much better traction.

Farm machinery could now travel faster and smoother to extend their reach to cover more acreage efficiently. While he now had a home in Akron and traveled the country extensively, Harvey Firestone returned often to the family farm to offer a helping hand and experience firsthand the performance of his tires in action.

Firestone belonged to many local and state organizations. His real interest and passion were developing ideas and putting these ideas into practice to make work and travel more enjoyable, efficient and affordable for not only farmers, but for all Americans. He helped to develop the interstate highway systems and put American military vehicles on inflatable tires.

Firestone’s love of farming and his passion for agricultural education led to his relationship with the Future Farmers of America. He established a scholarship program that carries on today.

ROGER GREENAWALT

Born Feb. 19, 1951, Greenawalt has been involved in many aspects of farming and agriculture throughout his life. He grew up on the family dairy farm in Beloit. His first independent endeavor was raising rabbits. The income from this project was used to buy his own farm toys.

Greenawalt graduated from The Ohio State University with a dual major in agricultural education and agricultural finance in 1972, and went on to earn his master’s degree in 1976. He taught Vo-Ag from 1972 to 1999, where he served as a cooperating teacher for student teachers. He initiated the annual “Food for America” field trip for district elementary students, served as the Young Farmer’s Advisor, and developed an agricultural education model curriculum for OSU.

Greenawalt has worked on a state level to develop the CAUV language for agricultural land use for farmers, and testified to keep PUCO language from becoming burdensome to farmers and farm trucks. He had many local, state, and national awards and recognitions for his involvement in teaching. He was a local government leader and ran a successful land improvement business. He now farms 650 acres, along with his farm drainage business.

FRANCIS AND JANE LESS

Francis and Jane Less were married in October 1941. They began their journey on Washingtonville Road in Green Township, Mahoning County. The couple soon were well known for the production of fruits, vegetables and grains. They also had a successful egg production business.

As the couple worked hard on the farm, Francis concentrated on the sweet corn, apples and field corn. He received recognition for producing 200 bushels per acre for five consecutive years, from 1969 to 1973. During 1973, former Gov. Richard Celeste appointed Francis to the Ohio Agricultural Finance Commission. He also served as a director of the Mahoning County Agricultural Society, the Farm Bureau Co-op board where he was a past president, and the Salem Fruit Growers Association (Greenstar).

The Lesses were the “go to” people for other local growers. Many would go to the Lesses for advice or answers when needed. Francis and Jane were a team, each supporting the operation of the farm and the family. In 1992, the Canfield Fair honored the family as the Rural Family of the Year. Together they achieved a high standing in their community, the region and the state.

PAUL E. MYERS

He was born Jan. 19, 1897. Paul grew up in Smith Township on a grain, dairy and livestock farm. Myers would travel throughout Mahoning and Columbiana counties purchasing cattle, hogs, turkeys and chickens. He would butcher these animals at his slaughterhouse and sell the meats to neighborhood markets in Greater Youngstown. This served as a great benefit to local farmers as there were no nearby outlets for their livestock and helped the markets as he offered fresh meats as refrigeration was limited.

As his business grew, Myers would travel to Parkersburg, W.Va., to secure additional animals to supply his markets. During this time, he saw the need for a local auction barn and together with Curt Shreve they founded the Damascus Livestock Auction. To get this project underway, Myers would make more trips to Parkersburg to bring livestock to the Damascus auction.

With all this hauling, Myers was always acquiring new cars and trucks. This led to his new venture of becoming a Reo Car and Truck dealer in Youngstown. As this business expanded, in 1937, he founded Myers Equipment Co. He continued to farm, milking Holstein cows and raising Black Angus beef until his retirement in 1972.

Myers was a lifelong member of East Goshen Friends Church, a 50-year member of Smith Grange,and Director Emeritus of the First National Bank of Salem. In 1920, Myers and his wife, Verna, hitched his horse to a buggy and traveled from Beloit to Canfield to enjoy a date at the Canfield Fair. They were married the following year on March 3. Myers’ son, David, and grandson, Craig, have gone on to serve as directors of the Canfield Fair.

Agriculture has been a cornerstone of the growth and development of Mahoning County since the county was formed in 1846, according to the MCAS website. Those involved in agriculture have been a vital part of the community and its growth. The purpose of the Mahoning County Agriculture Hall of Fame is to recognize those who have made a significant impact on agriculture.

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