LONDON, Ohio – This year’s Farm Science Review is expected to draw roughly 150,000 to the Sept. 20-22 show. Hard to believe that this event, which now covers 600 acres, features 700 exhibitors and 150 seminars, got its start 60 years ago when three men brainstormed over cups of coffee at a small diner in Delaware, Ohio.

In 1961, Roy Kottman, former dean of Ohio State University’s College of Agriculture, met with M.R. Maxon, a regional sales manager for International Harvester, for the purpose of holding field demonstrations and educational displays for the public. The reason for the meeting was to find a way of replacing Farm and Home Week, a once-popular open house for the College of Agriculture. The Farm and Home Week program ran for 46 years, but by 1959 interest in the open house had dwindled to a few dozen visitors.

Maxon was strong-willed and approached OSU, asking if the university would sponsor a farm machinery show that would include field demonstrations and educational displays.

Kottman and Maxon invited Ray Mattson, of the Columbus Tractor Club, to join them. Also joining them were Thomas Wonderling, of OSU Extension, and Robert P. Worral from the College of Agriculture.

In 1962, the five men finalized a “Memorandum of Agreement” among the Ohio Expositions Commission, Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (known as the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station at the time).

Later that year, OSU President Novice G. Fawcett signed the memorandum. Kottman signed for the College of Agriculture and Rowland Bishop signed for the Ohio Expositions Commission. Farm Science Review was officially born.

These men talked Dale Friday, of OSU’s Department of Agronomy, to be the first general manager of FSR.

The first show took place in September 1963 at OSU’s Don Scott Airport just northwest of the university. The theme for the first show was “Showcase of Agriculture.” More than 18,000 visitors paid 50 cents a ticket to view 116 commercial exhibits and be the first to witness no-till corn demonstrations.

Themes varied each year. For example, in 1964 the Review was titled “Show Window of Agriculture.” Last year’s theme was “Measure What Matters.” This year the theme is “Embracing Time and Change.”

Attendance in 1965 required the use of 24 shuttle buses, as word of the show crossed Ohio and neighboring states. Features that year were combines with 12-foot heads and seven-bottom plows. And 1966 saw the first field demonstrations, along with the first glimpse of solid-row planting of soybeans.

The 1967 show was considered by many to be the “Mud Bowl” of shows as rainy, muddy conditions that year made things treacherous for exhibitors and visitors (though some say that the 2017 show was just as treacherous). The highlight of the 1967 show was a laser used to maintain grade during a drain tile installation.

“Up-to-Date in ’68” was the theme for 1968. The main attraction that year was an irrigation system in the crop plots that covered 11.5 acres with each revolution.

By 1969 the cost to enter rose to 75 cents. Attendance increased to 39,000 and there were 192 exhibitors. The OSU Department of Animal Science put on a rodeo and fertilizer was spread by airplane. Event organizers put tents side-by-side to create a “mall” concept, but it created a confusing maze and was never attempted again.

In 1970, the beltway surrounding Columbus (Interstate 270) was completed and made access to the FSR much easier. A Corn Blight tent featured seminars in response to an outbreak of blight that year.

In 1971 the Animal Science/Farm Operations Complex was under construction and in 1972, permanent buildings took footing on the grounds. Highlighted in 1972 was a systematic drainage of the new beef pasture. By 1973 the Farm Science Review covered 45 acres, sported 340 types of hybrid corn and $6 million worth of equipment on display.

Skip-row soybeans and upright hybrid corn plantings were the highlight of 1974. Gravel roads were added to the site in 1975 and an antique farm equipment display made its appearance in 1976. By 1977, more than 65,000 entered the gates to see 420 exhibitors.

Nitrogen stabilizers were the hot item in the FSR field tests in 1978, while no-till planting was the big draw in 1979. In 1980 research on sludge took center stage.

By 1981, Dale Friday stepped down as the show’s general manager, being replaced by R. Craig Fendick. The new 12-bottom plow was the highlight at that year’s show, and by 1982 attendance swelled to 80,000.

The show was relocated to its present-day location of London, Ohio, in 1983. It took officials nine months and $700,000 to make the move, but it was needed as the show outgrew Don Scott Field.

Highlights at this new location were plentiful, such as the construction of a $350,000 grain complex, an 80-acre exhibit area and a Home, Yard and Garden program was installed.

In 1984 the show motto was “The Showcases of Ohio Agriculture” and the Gwynne Conservation Area was built. The following year a tornado destroyed one building and severely damaged the grounds’ headquarters. That same year the National Border Collie Sheep Dog finals were held on the grounds.

By 1986 more than 119,000 visitors and 506 commercial exhibitors were involved with the show. The National Plowing March was held on the grounds that year as well.

In 1988 visitors attended during Ohio’s second-worst drought in history. Fast forward to 1995, when global positioning technology, or GPS, made the scene, as did auto-steering tractor technology. That was also the year the Chuck Gamble became manager of Farm Science Review.

Five years later the first flush toilets were installed at the show, replacing portable units. And in 2005, 18 Purdue University specialists partnered with the FSR for the first time.

The 2008 show will be remembered as the year Hurricane Ike leveled tents and played havoc with the schedule. And who can forget the theme for the show that following year, Your 2009 Bale Out.

“While many attending Farm Science Review this year will not remember farming as it was 60 years ago, we hope this is a year to reflect on how much the industry has advanced so that excitement will build for the future knowing how rapid technology is shaping many areas of our industry,” current FSR manager Nick Zachrich said.