Mechling to Retire Tuesday

A community member with a long history at the OSU extension office announces that he will retire on June 30.

Fifty-nine year old Mark Mechling has worked at the extension office for 27 years, and before that he taught for 11. Now, he will call it quits next week.

But Tuesday, he remembered some of his fondest memories.

“I’ve had the opportunity to facilitate several studies of the county,” Mechling said. “Back in the ’90s we had a farmland preservation task force and then about eight years ago we had a comprehensive plan that we looked at the needs of the county.”

Mechling only has six more days left. However, he said agriculture is in his blood, and he will stay active with it. One way is by going to work on the farm.

“My brother and I operate a farm in Perry County, so [I’m] looking forward to doing some projects on the farm,” he said.

He also said he is happy to get to spend more time with his wife of 34 years. The extension office has not announced a replacement for Mechling, but it will likely do so later this summer.