Today I want to shine a light on the District that I am hopeful to represent. When most people think about Fulton County, I would say that they typically think about Rochester, or possibly Akron. While these towns are great examples of what Fulton County is, I think that District 1 towns and townships sometimes get overlooked.
• Of the five townships District 1 is comprised of, four maintain a volunteer fire department. These four volunteer fire departments not only serve the people of their township but also provide mutual aid to surround townships in Fulton County and provide mutual aid to other counties. We are so very blessed to have this service in our District, and the people who staff these volunteer fire departments do not get enough credit for what they do!
• Of the five townships in District 1, three have a very well ran library. This is absolutely incredible! Not only do these libraries offer the citizens of Fulton County access to books, periodicals, magazines, information, et cetera, but they also provide services in other ways. Whether it is hosting a summer reading program, allowing members of our community to use the library facilities to teach classes or offer outreach programs, being a place to go to for a quiet study environment, or a place to be able to go to help with food insecurity, these libraries do it all. We are incredibly fortunate to have these resources AND the people who are dedicated to running them. Our local library directors, boards, employees, and volunteers also do not get enough credit for what they do!
• We are very fortunate to have several impactful businesses in our District that help keep food on the table for many families. In Kewanna alone, two businesses keep many residents with a steady paycheck and a means to raise a family. The bigger businesses are not alone in this endeavor; we have many smaller businesses throughout our District that contribute to our local economy and offer services to our citizens. Fulton, Leiters Ford, Grass Creek, among others, all are home to many small businesses that help make up the fabric of our County’s economy.
• All of our townships represent the agricultural community to the fullest. District 1 is home to some of the largest farming operations in the County that keep a full roster of full-time employees year-round. We are fortunate to have these family farms in our community, and even more fortunate that these families give back to the community very often, and in many different ways. This was on display at the Fulton County 4H Fair a couple weeks ago. Whether it was sponsoring a grandstand event (yes, I’m aware that this particular family is not technically in District 1, but they’re close enough and they still provide a benefit to the County on the whole), supporting individual 4Hers at the auction, or sponsoring our youth athletic leagues, these families consistently step up, and their efforts need to be recognized!
• We have some tremendous parks in our Township. Whether it’s a ballgame at the Liberty Township Park, playing on the playground at the Kewanna-Union Township Park, or having a get together at the park in Grass Creek or German Bridge, there’s a place for everything.
• Last but not least, there is (in my opinion) the best kept secret in Fulton County – Caston School Corporation. We moved to the Caston School District when we moved to Kewanna back in 2015, and our two oldest started school there right away. Our kids had previously attended Rochester schools, where our middle son remained until he started 5th grade. Moving them to Caston was one of the best decisions we ever made for them. The quality of education and opportunities they got while there is evident to this day. We still have one at Caston, and I know for a fact that his experience will be the same as our three Caston graduates.
The Townships that make up Fulton County District 1 are incredible, and the people who call these areas home deserve nothing but the best. I grew up in a town south of Indianapolis and didn’t move to this area until 2006. I have never felt more at home than I do living where we now live. The people, the towns, the community pride, all second to none. I can’t think of anywhere else I would like to call home.