LONDON, Ohio -- This year's 44th annual Farm Science Review will be dedicated to the late Molly Brown Caren Fisher, who donated her family's 1812 Madison County farm to Ohio State University -- land which is now the Molly Caren Agricultural Center and site of the Review.
The dedication is in recognition of Fisher's love for farming, tireless lifelong service to the agricultural community and commitment to Ohio State through service, leadership, and financial contributions.
"Molly's roots ran very deep in agriculture," said Farm Science Review manager Chuck Gamble. "She was a super individual and a true philanthropist."
Molly Brown Caren Fisher, who passed away in 2005, will be recognized during the Vice President's Luncheon on Sept. 19. She is an FSR Hall of Fame inductee.
Three new inductees will join Fisher in the FSR Hall of Fame this year. Elizabeth Melick, Doris Utzinger and the late Herb Ruff will be honored during the Vice President's Luncheon on Sept. 19.
Worthington resident Elizabeth Melick, whose father Roland Leeper was an Ohio State University agronomist, tends the antique farm machinery display located in the Leeper and William L. George buildings on Friday Ave. The buildings house more than 1,600 pieces of farm machinery, garden equipment and kitchen utensils used between 1800 and 1930.
"Liz has been a phenomenal supporter of the antique display area both from a stand point of volunteer work and in donating pieces. Many of those items come directly from her family," said Gamble. "She's the keeper of the key, sort of speak. She's a peach of a lady and a genuine individual with a great heart."
Doris Utzinger, of Grove City, has been a loyal supporter of Ohio State University's Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and of FSR's Utzinger Garden, named in memory of her late husband Jim Utzinger.
"Doris is being recognized because of her dedication to the horticulture field. Her and her family have been instrumental in providing years of horticultural education to the public," said Gamble. "Utzinger Garden is a focal point for OSU presentations and educational programs at Farm Science Review."
The late Herbert Ruff, founder of Ruff's Seed Farms, spent his life giving to Farm Science Review through exhibits, materials for Ohio State research and in an advisory capacity.
"Herb was a one-of-a-kind guy," said Craig Fendrick, former FSR manager. "He was a long-time FSR supporter, a great exhibitor and the one guy we always went to for advice."
Ruff, who launched Ruff's Seed Farms in 1936, was an early pioneer of hybrid seed corn development in Ohio. The company, located in Fairfield County, has had a continuous presence at Farm Science Review since the farm show began.
Melick, Utzinger and Ruff will join past FSR Hall of Fame recipients, including:
Jack Bardall, James H. Given Jr., Craig Fendrick, William Hanusik, Sam Huber, Sam Bone, Larry Shepherd, Don Pritchard, Carl Lemon, Ray Miller, Larry Vance, Jim and Norma Trotter, Kathleen Smith, Bill Gill, Bill Schnug, Judy and Kelso Wessel, Ed Johnson, Harold Bauman, Jim Caldwell, Maurine McCormick, Francille Firebaugh, Robert Miller, Jim Utzinger, David R. Miskell, Robert L. Eby, C.L. "Lep" Lephart, Dorothy R. Friday, Paul C. Leidheiser, Thomas M. Stockdale, Ted L. Jones, William L. George, Earl W. McMunn, Roland L. Leeper, James W. Yingling, William B. Zipf, Wilbur A. Gould, Shirley A. Brooks-Jones, Marion E. Grimes, Molly Caren Fisher, Novice G. Fawcett, Dale T. Friday, Roy M. Kottman and Thomas F. Wonderling.
Farm Science Review is sponsored by Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and the academic units of the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. It takes place Sept. 19-21 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio. Tickets are $8 at the gate or $5 in advance when purchased from county offices of OSU Extension or participating agribusinesses. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept 19-20 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 21. For more information, see http://fsr.osu.edu.