• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Chad Grote

By MarionMade! on October 5, 2017

CHAD GROTE.

He is one of 88 in Ohio and planned it that way since the 6th grade. Chad Grote’s love of the outdoors at an early age set him on a career path that led to his current post as the Wildlife Officer for Marion County. He says his love of field and forest drew him to pursue a career with the Ohio Division of Wildlife–“what better way to protect what you care about than to enforcement of its laws?”

He has been at it for 10 years, that last eight in Marion, and says, even though he is on call 24/7, he doesn’t tire of the job because, “the community is very supportive and really are a big help in keeping an eye on Marion’s natural areas.”

More than 90 percent of Chad’s time is spent with people who are friendly and following the rules. While there is the occasional violator to contend with, he spends most of his time educating and building relationships. Along with patrolling Marion’s public wildlife areas, the largest being Big Island at 6,000 acres, Grote works with local organizations like Scout groups, fish and game clubs, youth groups, and more to educate the next generation of outdoors enthusiasts.

In addition to Big Island, Chad patrols the Beaver Wildlife Area, Marion County sections of Killdeer Plains and Delaware Wildlife Areas, as well as the Marion Tallgrass Trail. Having a green four-wheel drive truck as an office is exactly as Chad would have it, saying “the best part of the job is that you never know what each day will hold–like, meeting birders from Florida or hunters from Michigan who have come to Marion to enjoy our woods, fields, and wetlands.”

For Grote, his mission to protect Marion’s outdoors has a far-reaching goal, “I want to make sure your children’s children’s children have these natural areas to enjoy.”

#MarionMade #WeArePeople

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Marion in the Civil War

    Throughout the Civil War, Ohio supported the effort to preserve the Union by sending more men off to war than any other state North or South. And, Marion County was no different, with 1,775 men from Marion County enlisted in the Union Army–one-in-eight of those of age to enlist. In fact, with a population of […]Read More »
  • Lisiecki Family

    A FAMILY DEDICATED TO MAKING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. Evelyn Lisiecki, was born in Perú, and her husband, Tomasz Lisiecki, in Poland. After moving to Marion from Manchester, Connecticut, thirteen years ago, they immediately started to make a connection to the community. Evelyn is probably best known as the Latino Ministry Coordinator of Saint Mary’s Church. She […]Read More »
  • Norma Jacob

    Norma Jacob has called Marion home for 74 years. When the almost 99-year-old was told to keep her active lifestyle she needed a total knee replacement, she didn’t hesitate. Neither did her orthopedic surgeon, who deemed her physically fit to undergo a major operation at an advanced age. Five weeks after, Norma was back home […]Read More »
  • Marion City Fire Department

    Marion Fire Department Station 1, also known as Central Station, is located at 186 South Prospect Street in downtown Marion. Central Station is home to three crews of 35 cross-trained firefighter paramedics and emergency medical technicians, more commonly called EMTs. Station 1 has been at the Prospect Street location since 1912. It was also one […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image