Pollinator Palooza a Buzzing Success in Mahoning County

Mahoning County, OH – The Mahoning County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), along with partners Operation Pollination – Rotary Club of Youngstown, Mahoning County Land Bank, and OSU Extension Mahoning County, hosted its 1st Annual Pollinator Palooza on Saturday, May 10. The free, family-friendly event welcomed hundreds of guests to celebrate the importance of pollinators and native plantings at the Mahoning SWCD office.

With perfect spring weather and a parking lot full of energy, the event featured native plant sales, artisan and local vendors, community partner booths, food trucks, and interactive activities for all ages. The celebration emphasized the critical role pollinators play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and encouraged guests to “plant for pollinators” in their own backyards.

“This event was created to bring people together around a shared mission — protecting and supporting our pollinators,” said Kathi Vrable-Bryan, Executive Director with Mahoning SWCD. “The turnout and community enthusiasm were incredible. We’re thrilled with how the day turned out.”

The event was made possible thanks to generous sponsorships from Ellsworth Lavender Farm and Sunstone Garden LLC, whose support helped bring the vision of Pollinator Palooza to life. Volunteers from across the county also stepped up to assist with event setup, parking, education stations, and more.

The festival also emphasized sustainability with a zero-waste initiative in collaboration with the Mahoning County Green Team, encouraging attendees to bring reusable water bottles and minimize single-use plastics.

“We’re so grateful to everyone who attended, supported, and helped organize the event,” added Zack Felger, District Outreach and Education Specialist with Mahoning SWCD. “We’re already looking forward to an even bigger and better Pollinator Palooza next year.”

For more information on upcoming events, visit Mahoning SWCD’s website or contact Zachary Felger at zachary.felger@mahoningcountyoh.gov.

You can check out local news coverage of the event on WKBN here: Pollinators celebrated at Youngstown festival.

Thank you to Gates Drone Services for capturing an incredible aerial view of the event with their awesome drone video footage!