Farm Science Review to Honor Individuals in 25th Hall of Fame Class

LONDON, Ohio – The Farm Science Review Hall of Fame will induct its 25th class of honorees during the Vice President’s Luncheon on Sept. 16, the first day of the annual three-day farm show. This year’s honorees, who are being recognized for their contributions to and support of the show, are Mike Haubner and the late DeLynn Kale.

“The Farm Science Review is only as good as the people who have made it what it is today,” said Chuck Gamble, the show’s manager. “Both Mike and DeLynn were adamant in their work to add value to the show by volunteering their time and resources. Their contributions have had a lasting impact.”

Mike Haubner

Haubner served as the Ohio State University Extension educator in Clark County for 27 years, after beginning his career with OSU Extension as a 4-H agent in the same county. In his role, he collaborated on many projects at the Farm Science Review and its host site, the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, including a farming systems project that utilized the grounds beyond just the three days of the show. The project demonstrated to farmers what changes they could make in their own operations to be more efficient and profitable.

Today, Haubner continues to go above and beyond the call of duty as a Farm Science Review volunteer. He can be found in one of the information booths during the show, where he passes out programs, and is known for personally meeting and greeting farmers with a friendly smile as they walk through the gates. His work is a true reflection of the core values of OSU Extension, organizers said.

DeLynn Kale (posthumous)

Kale was a long-time exhibitor at the Farm Science Review and was instrumental in bringing the fields of the Molly Caren Agricultural Center up to par after the show site was moved from Columbus’s Don Scott Field in 1982. Facing a serious weed control problem, he gifted the Farm Science Review access to self-propelled spray equipment and helped with what is still referred to as “the great weed cleanup,” ensuring the show’s renowned field demonstrations had a professional image. To this day, the Farm Science Review’s field demos are revered by many as world-class, organizers said.

Kale also organized a custom applicator show, modeled after the Midwest Ag Industries Exposition, on the Review’s grounds. While the show ran only one year, Kale’s passion and drive helped to heighten agriculture and custom application in the Eastern Corn Belt. He was also well-known on the tractor pull circuit in Ohio. His legacy lives on through his Union County-based company, which still exhibits at the Farm Science Review today. 

The Farm Science Review is hosted by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. It is known as the Midwest’s premier agricultural event and draws more than 130,000 farmers, growers, producers and agricultural enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada annually. Participants are able to peruse 4,000 product lines from more than 600 commercial exhibitors and engage in educational opportunities with Ohio State and Purdue University specialists, Ohio State Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. This year’s show will mark the 10th anniversary of the show’s partnership with Purdue University and Purdue Extension.