LONDON, Ohio – Ohio State University's Farm Science Review is the place for agriculture – to connect with industry, to improve profits, to boost knowledge, and even to pursue a career.
The Bailey Building, located on Friday Avenue of the Review's exhibitor grounds, is Farm Science Review home to the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences academic programs. Eight departments, one school, regional campuses, and 4-H will all offer information on agricultural-related educational opportunities during Farm Science Review. The event will be held Sept. 21-23 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
New this year will be information on the Department of Entomology, which is now entirely housed within the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Since 1968 department faculty have had shared appointments with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the College of Biological Sciences. But due to a recent restructuring within the College of Biological Sciences and a desire among CFAES administration to solely house entomology, the department is now back where it originated.
Young adults who visit the Bailey Building can learn more about what CFAES has to offer through a fun, interactive activity known as Buckeye World.
"Students fill out a card with their contact information, and then they visit all of the booths and exhibits in the Bailey Building and participate in a game or other activity. They get their card stamped for each location and then when the card is filled they can redeem the card for a prize," said Jill Tyson, CFAES coordinator of prospective student services. "The purpose of the game is to encourage high school students to visit each booth and see what our college really does have to offer as far as majors and opportunities." Buckeye World will be offered from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day of Farm Science Review.
Tyson said that the college presence from a student recruitment standpoint is an important component of the educational aspect of Farm Science Review.
"Sometimes Farm Science Review is the first stop for a student to learn more about Ohio State University," said Tyson. "It's a central place where we are able to reach out to students to either expose them to the university or present them with something new that they might not already be familiar with."
The academic information and displays offered at Farm Science Review not only provide high school students with information about college opportunities, but they provide options for those seeking a higher degree of education or perhaps a career change, altogether.
"College is not just for those enrolling right after high school, but also for those nontraditional students who may have worked a year and want to go back to school, or who are retired and want to turn their passion or hobby into a career," said Tyson. "We offer a number of programs in our college that relate directly to both traditional and nontraditional student interests."
Attendees at Farm Science Review are encouraged to visit the Bailey Building and check out what CFAES has to offer.
"Our economy may be struggling right now, but we'll always need agriculture, food and the environment, and there will always be jobs in these areas," said Tyson. "From turning a love of gardening into a landscape career or exploring new food science technologies for the health-conscious consumer, this could be a great time to capitalize on continuing education."
Farm Science Review is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada, who come for three days to peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors, and learn the latest in agricultural research, conservation, family and nutrition, and gardening and landscape.
Farm Science Review pre-show tickets are now on sale for $5 at all OSU Extension county offices. Tickets will also be available at local agribusinesses. Tickets are $8 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21-22 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23.
For more information, log on to http://fsr.osu.edu. For the latest news and updates, follow Farm Science Review on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/OhioStateFSR), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FarmScienceReview), and Ning (http://fsrosu.ning.com).