Farm Science Review: A sign of normalcy

The pandemic continues as we try to get our lives back to normal. The pandemic has gone on long enough that the definition of normal is, at times, difficult to determine. However, football is back, schools started in person, and county fairs occurred during the summer. An event that was forced to go virtual last September plans to open in a few weeks: The Farm Science Review. The Farm Science Review is one of the largest farm shows east of the Mississippi River. The show is near London, Ohio, on 2100 acres at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. This three-day event is the premier educational show sponsored by The Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Prior to the pandemic, over 100,000 visitors attend each year to learn about and observe the latest agricultural research and new technology, and to visit over 600 commercial exhibitors. The show is known for its actual field demonstrations of the most technological-advanced equipment and examples of successful farming practices. During the event, educational workshops, presentations and demonstrations are delivered by experts from the Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. The show site is divided into three major areas: field demonstrations, OSU Central and the Gwynne Conservation Area. A large part of the land is in field demonstrations — showing the latest equipment and technology for planting and harvesting, global positioning, manure utilization, and tillage and conservation practices. OSU Central is the main street through the center of show, and it is the area where information and presentations are given by Ohio State University's colleges and departments. Programs are given in the McCormick, Bailey and Firebaugh buildings, and the Utzinger Garden. This year's topics focus on farm health and safety, cancer prevention, farm management programs, assistance in making financial decisions, the environment, and human and community development. The Utzinger Garden will have programs on yards and gardens. Side streets branch off Central to exhibitor tents and other information stations. One of the popular exhibits that is on one of the side streets is the Antique Farm Equipment building. The building has over 1,600 pieces of farm machinery, garden equipment and kitchen utensils from between 1800 and 1930. Special attractions are the 1805 wooden moldboard plow, antique garden tractors and an 1860 Milwaukee reaper. Look for the newest pieces, including a horse-drawn milk wagon and a 1923 Model T milk truck. If you want to learn more about woods, water, wildlife and grazing lands — and walk among them while you do it — check out the Gwynne Conservation Area. The nearly 70-acre demonstration site — home of a forest, a stream, a wetland, ponds, pastures, wildlife food plots, and trails leading past or through them — will offer 50-plus talks, tours and demonstrations during the Farm Science Review. During these programs, an individual can learn how to call turkeys, identify frogs, stock ponds with the best types of fish, and grow edible mushrooms in a bucket. A shuttle runs from OSU Central to Gwynne. The Farm Science Review runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21 and 22, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23. Complete details about all the events, exhibitors, field demonstrations and educational sessions can be found at http://fsr.osu Tickets may be purchased for $7 prior to the show at the Hancock County Extension office, 7868 County Road 140; or for $10 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Lentz is Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources for the Ohio State University Extension Service in Hancock County. Contact him at 419-422-3851 or lentz.38@osu.edu for additional information.