Free Lecture on Urban Agriculture with Jim Buchy and Dale Mallory on February 21, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Can this really be happening? Yes, and successfully! Jim Buchy “Rep Buchy,” a rural white

Republican, and Dale Mallory “Rep Dale,” an urban black Democrat, collaborated to bring this

to fruition for the inner cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Dale Mallory’s father, William L. Mallory Sr. majority leader in the Ohio House, had a

vision to increase 4-H participation in black cities in the state; Dale pursued this to honor his

father. Dale, a graduate of Taft High School Natural Resource Management Program at the

Cincinnati Zoo, learned about animals and agriculture, and for years, Dale has nurtured this concept of 4-H and FFA in the inner city.

While Dale was gardening, Jim was going from office to office campaigning for the concept

that would benefit Cincinnati and Cleveland. This was Jim’s personal-touch politics! The

concept was catching on. In Cincinnati, programs were created with over 100 black students, and

they were implementing grow towers and extracting DNA from strawberries.  Dale’s vision is to teach agriculture in the inner city to promote self-sufficiency and create a better environment in what some people consider to be a concrete jungle. It happened through donations, volunteers, partnerships, and commitment.

The Cincinnati Zoo and the Krohn Conservatory donated annuals that they could not plant during a very hot, dry spring to Dale’s group. Duane and Carol Harmon, who are devoted disciples to this effort, brought the kids to several locations in the inner city to maintain gardens throughout the summer and fall because they strongly believe that “it’s all about the kids!”

Rep. Buchy arranged a bus tour to what Rep. Dale calls “Buchyland” to enrich the agriculture experience. Many of the kids who had never ventured that far north experienced a number of

firsts—touring Garst Museum, seeing firsthand hundreds of acres of crops, visiting a 4400-head

dairy operation along with Weaver Eggs, which Rep. Dale describes as a modern marvel, and, of

course, being treated to their first Maid-Rites!

Additionally, the program acquired a 13-acre farm on Winton Road conveniently on the bus route. This effort led to partnerships with at least 15 organizations, and Central State University provided training and certification for 17 4-H advisors under this effort.

How was this improbable initiative accomplished? The Garst Museum Speaker Series will host Dale Mallory and Jim Buchy as they present this fascinating agricultural program on February 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. in the Lowell Thomas Meeting Room.

Admission to the lecture is free.

“Buchyland” tour November 2023