London, Ohio – The purpose of the Ohio Farm Science Review (FSR) today is the same as it was 60 years ago – to exhibit and demonstrate the latest advancements in farm power machinery and equipment, with emphasis on methods of harvesting, drying, storing and handling of field crops.

“Farm Science Review turns 60 this year and we plan to highlight its decades of providing valuable information to farmers and producers, while focusing on continuing to educate for the future,” said Garrett Nowak, Farm Science Review site manager.

This premier agricultural education and industry exposition is set for Sept. 20-22 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London. Hosted by Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), the 60th FSR theme is “Embracing Time and Change.”

“Farm Science Review has a long tradition of bringing together educators and industry to showcase the latest in agriculture innovation,” Nowak said. “This annual three-day show provides opportunities for growers in the livestock industry, row crop farming, specialty crops, or even an individual with just a few acres and a small garden to come and learn from educators and industry experts about a wide variety of topics.”

Across the 100-acre exhibit area, attendees will also see countless numbers of new innovations in farm machinery. Paths on the grounds crisscross among roughly 700 exhibits, which will range in topics of interest including livestock, electric tractors, and other tractor implements, in addition to the educational sessions and displays from OSU Extension.

More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will feature more than 100 educational sessions featuring “Ask the Expert” talks with ag experts, the most comprehensive field crop demonstrations in the United States, a career exploration fair, and immersive virtual reality videos of agricultural activities.

FSR has more than 600 acres of field demonstrations showcasing everything from tillage, drainage installation, drones and more.

“Our visitors will be able to see farming equipment from the 1960s to highlight all the advances that are available in farming today,” Nowak said. “During the field demonstrations, once our equipment has run through the field, attendees can walk out, put their eyes on it, put their hands on it and talk to the company representatives who are there to answer any questions they might have about the equipment or the farming practices.”

A short wagon ride away from Farm Science Review’s rows of gleaming tractors, its grounds full of hundreds of exhibitors and visitors, one will see another side of agriculture: its waters, woods and wildlife.

This is the Gwynne Conservation Area, where Deer Creek flows in the shade of a forest, bluegill dimple the surface of ponds, killdeer birds call from a wetland mudflat and the wind rustles big bluestem prairie grass. Here visitors will find ideas on caring for their land.

Shuttle buses will be on hand take visitors through the Gwynne Conservation Area, a 67-acre zone dedicated to the latest conservation practices one can implement on one’s property.

“At the Gwynne Conservation Area there will be everything from stream and pond management, prairie restoration, beekeeping and wildlife habitat,” Nowak said. “There’s a variety of habitats and ecosystems and appropriate conservation and resource management practices to see.”

The Gwynn Conservation Area is divided into four areas: Forages & Grazing, Wildlife & Aquatics, Woodland, and Cabin.

In the Forages & Grazing component, attendees can learn about such things as managing pastures, improving soil health, grassland ecosystems, high stock density grazing and tips on stockpiling forage for winter.

The Wildlife & Aquatics section will show visitors the best fish species for stocking a pond, pond aeration, predator management, beekeeping, snake identification, and how to attract wildlife to one’s property, just to name a few. Members of the Central Ohio Fly Fishers will be on hand to introduce visitors to fly fishing and fly casting.

The Woodland section will inform attendees about mushroom farming, tree identification, tree planting, invasive species and the dangers of ticks. Consulting forester John Kehn will be on hand to show you how, when and why to sell lumber from your property.

The Cabin portion of the Gwynne Conservation Area will have experts who will discuss such topics as maple sugaring, H2Ohio opportunities in the state, carbon storage in urban soils, implementing a grazing management for your farm, and many others.

Master gardeners will be throughout the Utzinger Memorial Garden, a plot designed for those interested in gardens. Experts will discuss pumpkin production, improving tomato fruit quality, wine grape production, fungicides and disease control of fruits and vegetables, elderberry production in Ohio and the marketing of specialty crops, just to name a few.

Visitors to this year’s show will want to visit the iFarm Immersive Theatre for an experience similar to an IMAX theater for viewing agriculture-based films. Topics include a ride on a crop duster applying fungicide, exploration of natural habitats, a view from inside a beehive, an aerial tour of Ohio and multiple machinery demonstrations.

“For six decades, Farm Science Review has offered a gathering place for agriculture to showcase products, services and education to the public to improve profitability, sustainability and excitement for future possibilities,” said Nick Zachrich, FSR Manager. “As Farm Science Review reaches this milestone year for the 60th edition of bringing the industry together, there is a lot of optimism that the next 60 years will be full of new practices and technology that could be displayed at Farm Science Review.”

The Molly Caren Agricultural Center is t 135 state Route 38 near London, Ohio. The event can be seen off Interstate 70.

Farm Science Review hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20-21, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 22. Presale tickets are $10 online at county offices of OSU Extension and at participating agribusinesses, or $15 at the gate. Children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information visit fsr.osu.edu.