MARIETTA, OHIO — For Allison Hinton, staying local wasn’t just a choice; it was a calling. A 2023 graduate of Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO), Hinton found her future rooted in her family’s farm and creamery, Florence Creamery, in Little Hocking, Ohio.
“Working on the farm was always what I wanted to do,” said Hinton. “The thought of leaving never crossed my mind. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay and help run the business, so I took it and ran with it.”
Hinton earned her degree in Business Management from WSCO and now uses her education daily in nearly every aspect of the business. From marketing and advertising to creating invoices and managing the books, she says her classes gave her the foundation she needed to succeed.
“Excel is something I use almost every day for invoices and monthly statements,” she explained. “And the different marketing strategies I learned in my classes have been so important in growing our small business.”
Hinton’s path to WSCO began early through the College Credit Plus (CCP) program, which allowed her to earn college credits while still in high school. “CCP really helped me jumpstart my college career,” said Hinton. “I was able to get a lot of my English and math classes out of the way, which gave me more time to focus on the farm and the creamery while I was at WSCO.”
Balancing school and farm life was no easy feat, but WSCO’s flexible options made it possible. “I loved the close community feel of WSCO. The professors were always kind and willing to help,” she said. “But switching to online classes was a game-changer. It allowed me to keep working full-time on the farm while still finishing my degree.”
Florence Creamery, which bottles milk and makes cheese from the family’s herd of Holsteins and Jerseys, supplies products to stores throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley. This year, the family business celebrates a major milestone: 100 years of producing and selling milk to the public.
As Hinton reflects on her journey, she credits WSCO with preparing her to take her family’s legacy into the future. “My degree gave me the tools I needed to help our business thrive,” she said. “WSCO was the perfect fit for me, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a supportive, flexible college experience.”
