History and Research Focus

Land for the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, located two miles north of London, Ohio, was donated in 1982 by Molly Caren to The Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Caren wanted her 993-acre family farm to be a showcase for the agricultural industry, and a resource for future generations of farmers to see the latest in farming technologies. Ohio State’s Farm Science Review (FSR) moved from Don Scott Field to Molly Caren in 1983 to provide the opportunity to expand FSR’s presence in the Midwest. In 1992, Ohio State had the opportunity to add 1,104 acres of adjoining land, bringing the total land base to 2,097 acres, enabling commercial-scale crop production.

Agricultural production at Molly Caren focuses on corn, soybeans and wheat. More than 1,400 acres of crops are grown with the latest equipment and technology available in the agricultural industry. This provides an opportunity to evaluate crop production methods and generate important crop information for use by faculty in CFAES. The facility itself includes a modern grain-handling facility to demonstrate grain-handling and storage techniques.

A wide scope of research projects are conducted at Molly Caren each year, with key projects related to agronomy and precision agriculture technologies such as remote sensing, nutrient utilization, equipment/soil interactions, crop population intensities and drainage management. Research also focusses on interactions between ag production and the surrounding environment, with conservation management occurring on 368 acres of woodland and grassed buffers. Projects ranging from bee pollination and grass buffers to drainage are conducted by CFAES faculty and staff, demonstrating practices that will be adopted on large-scale producer farms across the state. 

Corporate partners, national associations, several state agencies, Ohio State departments and the Molly Caren staff contribute to ideas exhibited. In addition to FSR, Molly Caren hosts various outreach events including corporate training, Master Gardener Volunteer training and meetings, field days, and 4-H and FFA events throughout the year.

Gwynne Conservation Area

The Gwynne Conservation Area is a 67-acre demonstration and education area for agriculture and natural resource management practices. Topics emphasized at the Gwynne are water management, prairie and timber habitats, soil conservation and alternative land uses. The Gwynne is used year-round for educational programs conducted by local and state agencies, as well as by other natural resource-related organizations. There is a four-season cabin available for educational activities, and the wetland deck, where visitors can experience nature up close. 

Each year during Farm Science Review more than 4,000 people visit the Gwynne, where exhibitor and Ohio State staff provide resources to landowners. A unique resource for Ohio citizens and other visitors, the Gwynne shows landowners ways to enhance their land for economic, environmental and enjoyment purposes.

Farm Science Review

Molly Caren is home to the annual Farm Science Review, a shining star in the agricultural exhibition world. The three-day event annually attracts upwards of 100,000 visitors from across the United States and Canada. FSR visitors experience 80 acres of exhibits from more than 500 agricultural companies, showcasing a wide range of equipment and supplies. During FSR, Molly Caren provides the space across 600 acres for various field demonstrations like corn and soybean harvest, tillage, precision agriculture, drainage management installations, and nutrient application equipment.

Educational programs such as agronomy, small farm education, pesticide education, ag safety, universal design, and horticulture are offered by Ohio State University Extension educators and specialists during the event. FSR offers producers and landowners information that can enhance all aspects of their homes and agricultural businesses.

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