LOUDONVILLE, OH — The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum has been awarded the Best Exhibition Award (Under $500,000 Budget) by the Ohio Museums Association, recognizing the museum’s outstanding exhibit Johnny Appleseed: Cultivating a Nation.
The honor was presented during the Association’s annual awards banquet held on Sunday, March 30, and celebrates excellence in exhibition design and programming among Ohio’s cultural institutions.
Accepting the award on behalf of the museum were Leslie Braden, President of the Board of Directors, and Laurie Bower, Trustee. Museum curator Kenny Libben, who developed the exhibit, was unable to attend the ceremony as he is currently in Egypt leading one of the museum’s acclaimed international tours.
Johnny Appleseed: Cultivating a Nation debuted at the museum in the summer of 2024 and was open to the public throughout the season. The exhibit explored the life, myth, and legacy of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, separating fact from folklore and examining his influence on early American agriculture, conservation, and culture.
Through rich storytelling, immersive panels, and historical interpretation, the exhibit invited visitors to rethink one of the most iconic figures in American history.
Thanks to a generous community grant from the Ashland County Community Foundation, the museum was able to develop the exhibit entirely in-house.
The exhibit is now available as a traveling display for museums, libraries, and cultural centers interested in sharing this engaging story with their own communities.
This latest award adds to a growing list of honors and achievements for the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, operated by the Mohican Historical Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
In 2015, curator Kenny Libben received the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award from the Ohio Local History Alliance, followed in 2024 by the Hunter-Burley Award from the Small Museum Association, recognizing exceptional contributions to public access and professional growth within a single institution.
The museum’s volunteer corps has also received statewide acclaim.
In 2020, longtime volunteers John and Alice Schopfer were honored with the Ohio Local History Alliance’s Outstanding Individual Achievement Award for their dedication— particularly in operating the museum’s historic Workman Cabin.
The following year, Jeanne Griffin was named Volunteer of the Year by the Ohio Museums Association, receiving the Betty Bryan Award for her service and leadership.
In 2022, Libben’s work earned international recognition when he was elected as an officer of the International Council of Museums’ Committee for Regional Museums (ICOM-ICR).
Since then, he has been invited to collaborate with and speak at museums across the globe, further raising the profile of the Loudonville-based institution.
“This award is not just recognition of a single exhibit,” said Braden, “but a celebration of our museum’s continued commitment to high-quality programming, community engagement, and historical storytelling.
“We are proud of what our team—and our volunteers—continue to accomplish year after year.”
For more information about the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, upcoming events, or booking the Johnny Appleseed traveling exhibit, visit www.crfmuseum.com.