Farm Science Review to Induct Two New Members into Hall of Fame

Writer(s): 
Gwynne Conservation Area, Farm Science Review, London, Ohio. Photo: CFAES

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Farm Science Review will induct Terry Howell and, posthumously, John Rockenbaugh into the Farm Science Review Hall of Fame on Sept. 22 during the farm trade show’s annual three-day run.

Howell is the owner and managing member of St. Paris, Ohio-based Howell Land Development. Rockenbaugh was an Ohio Division of Wildlife/Soil and Water Conservation District wildlife specialist. Both are being honored for their significant contributions to the Review, said Chuck Gamble, who manages the annual farm show.

The Farm Science Review, which this year is Sept. 20-22 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio, offers farmers and other visitors the opportunity to learn about the latest agricultural innovations from experts from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.

Each year, the event inducts honorees into its Hall of Fame to recognize significant individual contributions that have helped to lead to the success of the Review, Gamble said.

“We like to take the time to publicly recognize those people who have taken ownership in Farm Science Review and helped to make the event what it is today – an event nationally recognized as a premier agricultural show,” Gamble said. “Since the Review’s inception 54 years ago, we’ve inducted 75 outstanding individuals — including our two honorees this year — into our Hall of Fame.”

Terry Howell

Howell, of Urbana, Ohio, was chosen because of his efforts to assist in bringing multiple buildings and permanent structures to Farm Science Review, Gamble said. Howell, who was first associated with the Review as an exhibitor with Butler Manufacturing in 1974, helped facilitate the gifting of the Bailey Building to FSR by Butler Manufacturing. Howell has since attended the Review as an exhibitor for multiple companies and is credited with facilitating the bringing of 12 other buildings and structures to FSR, including the United Equipment Dealers Association Building, the Ohio Department of Agriculture Building and the Emergency Services Building.

“Terry’s foresight, leadership and dedication to FSR has led to the event’s ongoing success and its reputation as being known as one of the top farm shows in the country,” Gamble said.

John Rockenbaugh

Rockenbaugh, who was a member of the Review’s Gwynne Conservation Area Committee, was chosen for his dedication to the Review and habitat management, Gamble said.

During his tenure on the Gwynne committee, Rockenbaugh was the committee’s expert on grasslands and wetlands, forging partnerships with state, federal and private entities to make resources available to the Gwynne that otherwise would have been difficult to accomplish, Gamble said. Rockenbaugh also served as a workshop presenter at the Review, with topics such as “Tallgrass Prairie Truths,” “Coping with Muskrats” and “Wetlands Don’t Bite.”

“John was a passionate educator about conservation practices,” Gamble said. “He was one of those educators and communicators that could tell the story of habitat management to anybody. He was a very learner-centered individual who was able to explain/translate conservation practices in a very effective, passionate way.”

Sponsored by CFAES, Farm Science Review offers visitors some 180 educational presentations and opportunities presented by educators, specialists and faculty from Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college

The Review annually draws between 110,000 and 130,000 farmers, growers, producers and agricultural enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada and offers more than 4,000 product lines from 630 commercial exhibitors.

Advance tickets for the Farm Science Review are $7 at all OSU Extension county offices, many local agribusinesses and online at fsr.osu.edu/visitors/tickets. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20-21 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

Writer(s): 
Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
For more information, contact: 

Chuck Gamble 
614-292-4278
gamble.19@osu.edu