by Isabella Carwile | Sep 9, 2024 | Community, Events, Membership
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release September 9, 2024
OAKWOOD – A staple Paulding County venue for outdoor activities held a kick-off event here to introduce their fall line-up on Saturday. Paulding County Economic Development hosted a ribbon cutting for Auglaize Canoe & Kayak, on the Weller Farm, to unveil their two new corn mazes and many other events and opportunities for the 2024 fall season. The big attraction is the nine-acre corn maze. This year the maze will be patterned for the logo of “Limitless” in Paulding.
Liz Weller, Auglaize Canoe and Kayak business owner, shared how the collaboration came about, “Our family loves everything about Limitless and we are so excited to design our corn maze in their honor. As you follow the path around the maze you will learn several facts about Limitless, revealing three of their positive mottos”.
In addition to the large corn maze, new this year is a smaller “Jurassic” themed maze that allows for younger family members to also participate in the fun. There will be upcoming announcements on a trick-or-treat event hosted inside the maze, helicopter candy drop and also an evening flashlight event.
If corn mazes aren’t your thing, guests can walk through the four-acre pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin, or simply choose one of the already picked pumpkins. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Also available is a wagon ride around the farm with a spectacular fall view along the river the beautiful Auglaize River. The family owned 1947 Allis Chalmers tractor will pull a wagon full of guests on a guided tour of straw bales complete with “celebrity themed” scarecrows. The ride continues through a skeleton themed movie reenactment with a fan favorite celebrity participant at the end to complete the ride.
In addition, there are many other opportunities for guests of all ages to participate or view. Fall wouldn’t be complete without fresh-pressed apple cider, which the Weller family makes on site with their antique cider press, and has full gallon or half gallon options available for purchase. There is putt-putt golf, a youth barrel train ride, a playground including a child size cabin, bounce house, a campfire to enjoy sitting near the river by the fire or cooking smores, ample fall picture setting opportunities for fall themed senior or family pictures, selfies, beautiful fall nature in general, and much more. In addition to the cider, the farm also produces honey. The canoe and kayak livery options continue to be open and available. A variety of participating food trucks will be on site on weekends.
The Weller Farm, owned by Doug & Bonnie Weller, started hosting the Canoe & Kayak venue in 2013. As business and attendance picked up, additional opportunities were added and offered. In 2021 the pumpkin patch and corn mazes were added. The Wellers continue to listen to feedback from guests and strive to improve. The input helps with growth through new business options each year. The farm is now the largest importer of guests to Paulding County. In 2023 the facility hosted more than 10,000 customers. Business is well on pace to exceed that number in 2024.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey noted, “The Auglaize Canoe and Kayak business, located on the Weller Farm, just continues to improvise and adjust to customer requests and demand. It is just astounding to drive over the Auglaize River and see the amount of boaters in the water, knowing all the other activities on the farm are busy too. The corn maze just adds to the interest and pulls attendance from all over the region.”
Come out and see everything the farm has to offer for a quick visit or spend the day. Whether you live in the city, and yearn to feel a little bit of the natural outdoors, or live in the country and experience this atmosphere all the time, Weller Farm offers a new experience for you. The farm, located at 24821 Road 207 just off the Putnam/Paulding County line road, is open 9a-5p on Saturdays and noon-5p on Sunday, through October 31.
There is also opportunity to schedule weekday and evening events by appointment. The farm has hosted school field trips, youth groups and family reunions, but there is always room to discuss options for any other group opportunities for interested guests. For admission pricing or more detailed information, call 419-594-3456, visit the website www.auglaizecanoe.com or check their social media on Facebook or Instagram. This year there are $1 off admission price coupons available at the Limitless store or PC Workshop in Paulding.
by Isabella Carwile | Sep 6, 2024 | Community, Events, Jobs, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release Sept. 3, 2024
Paulding – The Van Wert County Economic Development office will be hosting a “Build your Future” event on September 18th, 2024 at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. All Paulding County schools are invited to attend this year’s event. This event will be divided into two sessions – a morning session + afternoon session.
Here’s a recap of the event.
Vantage students in Carpentry, Construction, Electricity, Industrial Mechanics, & Welding, along with local business partners & sponsors, provide local freshman & sophomores hands on activities related to the Industrial field. The students work their way through multiple booths featuring different activities where they can weld, frame a wall, use a skid loader, etc.
The event will bring freshman & sophomore students from all three Paulding County high schools to learn about, meet and discuss future opportunities with area businesses.
“This event is an opportunity for students to become familiarized with local business and what they do, gain awareness of various careers, get leads on summer employment and much more. We understand that each student is in a different place with job and future education decisions. Our hope with this event is to meet students where they are in that decision process and help provide them with numerous options to consider for their future.” stated Economic Development, Administer Assistant, Jessica Stechschulte.
The event will run 1st session; 9 am – 11 am. 2nd session; 12 pm- 2 pm. Each school will then bus their students to the event on the hour for forty-five minutes.
Students will be provided with all safety PPE materials needed upon arrival.
by Isabella Carwile | Aug 28, 2024 | Community, Membership, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast
This week on the Paulding County Business Weekly podcast we have Heather Matusiak, Branch Manager of the Antwerp, Bryan, and Shelbyville, IN credit unions. Heather shares how Paulding County’s only in-county credit union is member-owned, allowing a slightly different look at financial support and business. Listen in to hear how GenFed is working hard to get their name out into the community and grow #pauldingcountystrong
Thank you to OhioMeansJobs for sponsoring this program. You can tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or Click Here to Listen Online! Paulding County Business Weekly is also available on many podcast platforms including Apple, Google & Spotify. #pauldingcountystrong
by Isabella Carwile | Aug 14, 2024 | Community, Jobs, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast, Workforce
This week on Paulding County Business Weekly we have Greg Johnson, President & CEO, and Jeff Starner, CFO of the Herbert E. Orr company. Listen in to hear how the business began, where it’s been, and where it’s headed as it continues to be a viable employment option in Paulding County that continues to support #pauldingcountystrong efforts.
Thanks to OhioMeansJobs, you can tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Click Here to Listen Online! Paulding County Business Weekly is also available on many podcast platforms including Apple, Google & Spotify. #pauldingcountystrong
by Isabella Carwile | Jul 25, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, New Business, Property Development, Shoutout
PAULDING, OH – Okuley’s Pharmacy, located in Continental and Defiance, Ohio, is excited to announce the opening of a new location. Okuley’s Pharmacy – Paulding will be located at 829 North Williams Street (former Fastenal location next to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles).
“This is an exciting announcement for Paulding County,” stated Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Director Tim Copsey. “It was heart wrenching when the announcement came from Rite Aid that our very well supported store was on the closure list. We immediately started making connections to take action. We met with the Paulding County Hospital Administrative Board the very next morning and made a plan to reach out to the Antwerp Pharmacy and Okuley’s. Both will benefit from the Rite Aid closure. We can’t thank the Okuley’s enough for choosing to open this new location in Paulding.”
There were many partners that took quick action to make this new location come to fruition. Okuley’s, the Paulding County Hospital, DLM Realty, and even the Ohio Department of Liquor all responded and acted quickly to the contact and efforts the PCED office made to make this a smooth transition.
“We are still several weeks away from the storefront opening but at least our county residents have the opportunity to again pick up their medications locally. The liquor store will move to a separate location but that is secondary to getting the necessary medications locally. Our office will focus more on that now that Okuley’s is established,” Copsey closed.
“Okuley’s are excited to add the Paulding community to our locations. Our team is looking forward to serving the community with prescription and medical equipment needs. There are many moving parts to making this happen. We are all going to work hard to get up and running as soon as possible to help eliminate stress for the patients. We thank everyone in advance for your patience as we put all the pieces together” commented Kieu and Travis Okuley.
Patients that would like to pick up medications locally can immediately begin to transfer their medications to the Okuley’s Pharmacy Continental, Ohio location, located at 102 South Main Street. Prescriptions will be filled and can then be picked up in Paulding at the 829 N. Williams Street location Monday thru Friday from 3-6pm.
Once the Paulding building remodel is complete, all licenses obtained, and contracts are in place, the Paulding store will be open to the public. The goal is to open sometime in September. Watch the Okuley’s Pharmacy Facebook page or the website www.okuleypharmacy.com for updates.
For help transferring your medications or if there are any questions you can contact the Continental Okuley’s Pharmacy at 419-596-3898 or fax 419-596-3909. All attempts will be made to make this transition as seamless as possible.
by Isabella Carwile | Jul 16, 2024 | Community, Events, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast
This week on the Paulding County Business Weekly podcast, we hear from Paulding County Director of Waste Management Education & Awareness (WMEA) Shannon Ruschel. She will explain about the upcoming county special recycling day event that includes the collection of tires, e-waste, fluorescent bulbs, and water-based paint. She also touches on recycling around the county and the collaboration it takes to make it all happen.
We can’t thank OhioMeansJobs enough for sponsoring this program and the team at My102.7FM for making it happen. Tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or
Click Here to Listen Online!Paulding County Business Weekly is also available in podcast form through Apple, Google & Spotify.
#pauldingcountystrong
