Some old-fashioned farm traditions from Butler and Warren counties could help increase the food supply in Ukraine.

        Since splitting from the formerSoviet Union a decade ago, Ukraine has been trying to set up a market economy.

        One goal is to increase the food supply in a country where beef and pork are too expensive for the average person to eat every day.

        Today, a group of about 15 Ukrainian livestock experts will visit Mohrfield Farms in Pleasant Plain from 9:30 a.m. to noon and Zaenkert Farm in Okeana from 2 p.m. until late in the day.

        At Mohrfield, they will learn about Holstein breeds. At Zaenkert, they'll observe milking operations and learn about life on an American farm.

        “We've had visitors like these before,” said Julie Zaenkert, whose husband, Fred, milks 130 cows daily with help from three sons and a grandson. “My husband is a first-generation farmer. He started in 1964 without ever milking a cow.”

        “The last time some foreign visitors came, I gave them a house tour, too. I thought it would be nice for them to see how we live.”

        Both Ohio counties are better known for their development than agriculture these days. But they still have productive farms, despite the influx of subdivisions and shopping strips.

        The visitors come from Ukraine's Kharkiv region. Its capital city, Kharkiv, is Cincinnati's sister city.

        The tour, organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development, also stops at grain terminals, elevators, research stations and other farm operations in several states.

        Tour organizer Bruce Vaillancourt, of the Center for Economic Initiatives, said the study tours improve business in Kharkiv. He said 60 percent of farm companies participating in the tours have doubled their efficiency.

        “Our program uses "best-in-class' businesses and organizations to show farmers and business people how to compete effectively,” he said. “The group learns how to apply modern technology and management techniques in their businesses. ... This will improve the Ukrainian economy and increase Ukraine's standard of living.”

        MIDDLETOWN — An Aug. 1 pancake breakfast raised $1,800 for a new scholarship sponsored by the Middletown Area Chapter of the Miami University Alumni Association.

        It needs $25,000 to set up the scholarship fund.

        For more information, call Sherry Pieratt at 727-3463.

        LEBANON — An exhibit, “Selling the Shaker Brand,” will run from Sept. 1 through Oct. 28. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays at the Warren County Historical Museum.

        The museum, 105 S. Broadway, is closed on Mondays and major holidays.

        The exhibit will include production chairs, rockers, seed boxes and packets, wooden pails and buckets, gift items (sewing baskets and poplar ware), herbs and medicines and cloaks and bonnets.

        Admission: $3 adults, $1 children from kindergarten through grade 12.

        Information: 932-1817.

        Randy McNutt's column appears Saturday. Write to him at The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive., West Chester, OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail: Rmcnutt@enquirer.com.

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