Farm Science Review to Honor Hixson, Watters in 26th Hall of Fame Class

Source: Ag Answers

The 26th class of honorees will be inducted into the Farm Science Review Hall of Fame during the Celebration of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences luncheon, a first-time event, on Sept. 24.

John Hixson and Harold Watters will join past honorees for their contributions to and support of the Farm Science Review. The college, part of The Ohio State University, sponsors the annual three-day farm show.

“John and Harold will join an extraordinary group of people who have gone above and beyond for the Farm Science Review and greatly contributed to the overall success of the show throughout the years,” said Chuck Gamble, manager of the Farm Science Review.

John Hixson

John’s career spanned over 30 years with Ohio State University Extension, beginning as a 4-H agent in Ross County and then transitioning to being an Agriculture, Community Development and Natural Resources agent in Union County for 25 years. He retired in 2009. Throughout his career, John collaborated on many projects at the Farm Science Review and Molly Caren Agricultural Center, including a major farming systems project that compared and analyzed different farming practices in terms of agronomic and economic feasibility.

He was instrumental in leading this project, recruiting a network of farmers to manage and standardize each farming practice being analyzed, and ultimately determining which practice was the most agronomically and economically sustainable. John also served as Farm Science Review Manager Chuck Gamble’s mentor when Gamble was an OSU Extension agent in Logan County. John won’t have to travel far to receive his Hall of Fame award during this year’s show, as he is still very active at the Farm Science Review, working as a staff member in the information booths.

Harold Watters

Harold’s involvement with the Farm Science Review dates back to the 1970s when he was a student employee and the show was still held at the Ohio State University Airport, also known as Don Scott Field. Harold’s work as an OSU Extension agronomy field specialist and coordinator of the university’s Agronomic Crops Team has since brought him back to the Farm Science Review. Harold and his team will be located in the plot area during the show, networking with and educating farmers by answering questions on pertinent agronomic topics, which illustrates Farm Science Review’s role in bringing farmers together during the annual event. OSU Extension’s extensive presence in the plot area is due to Harold’s commitment to the farmers of Ohio and the surrounding region.

His involvement with the Farm Science Review is year-round as he utilizes the grounds for other industry events, including the Farm Science Review Agronomy College in partnership with the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, of which he is on the OABA Agronomy Task Force and helped to establish the Certified Crop Adviser program. His ties to the show aren’t strictly professional, however; Harold met his wife, Virginia, during their years as Farm Science Review student employees together.

Advance sale tickets for the Farm Science Review are $7 at all OSU Extension county offices, many local agribusinesses and online at fsr.osu.edu/onlineticketform//. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Show hours are 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Sept. 22-23 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24.

Farm Science Review is known as Ohio’s premier agricultural event and typically 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 roughly 620 commercial exhibitors and engage in educational workshops, presentations and demonstrations delivered by experts from OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college. For more information about the Farm Science Review, visit fsr.osu.edu.