Ohio State’s 4-H Mobile Classroom brings STEAM learning to Farm Science Review

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State University's 4-H Mobile Classroom is more than just a vehicle for education. It's a catalyst for lifelong curiosity and creativity.

At a back-to-school kickoff in Grove City, Ohio, children buzzed with excitement as they explored colorful booths and activities. But one stop drew an especially eager crowd: a 34-foot bus offering hands-on STEAM learning, from digital art and app design to robotics and coding. Parents watched as their children discovered possibilities many had never imagined.

This fall, families at Farm Science Review, Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, will have the same opportunity.

Hosted by Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), the annual farm show attracts more than 100,000 visitors and features over 4,000 product lines and 180 educational sessions led by CFAES researchers and Ohio State University Extension experts.

Alongside showcasing the latest in agriculture, Farm Science Review also offers family and youth programming - with the 4-H Mobile Classroom as part of its offerings.

The mobile classroom is part of Ohio 4-H, the youth development program of OSU Extension, CFAES' outreach arm. Through Ohio 4-H, more than 84,000 young people across all 88 Ohio counties engage in programs that inspire curiosity, build lifelong skills, fuel adventure and grow leaders.

The 4-H Mobile Classroom takes this mission on the road, delivering STEAM experiences directly to schools and communities that might not otherwise have access.

"It was powerful for someone her age to see that she has the capability to make things work," recalled Linda Harley, who watched her 6-year-old daughter light up while designing a digital drawing inside the bus. "My daughter was amazed. … She put an idea on a tablet and then watched the pen draw it."

Empowering the next generation through STEAM

Led by Christy Millhouse, a STEM educator with Ohio 4-H, the 4-H Mobile Classroom offers a variety of technology activities and can connect youth with the over 200 projects that Ohio 4-H offers . Inside, students use iPads and coding software, explore app development, compose music with GarageBand, and free-draw with digital sketching tools.

"The idea is to help kids get excited about using technology that they may have never been able to access before," Millhouse said. "We want kids to see that they can do more than they thought possible. We're opening their minds to what they can achieve through technology."

For some, this is their first time engaging with advanced digital tools.

Millhouse recalled one high school student who declared, "I do not do technology." After some encouragement, he was soon fully engaged. "It's really empowering for them," she said.

Why bring the 4-H Mobile Classroom to Farm Science Review?

Farm Science Review provides the perfect stage for the 4-H Mobile Classroom because it brings farm families, students and educators together in one place. While Farm Science Review is nationally known for cutting-edge agricultural displays, its family and youth programming showcase how CFAES and OSU Extension are preparing future leaders.

In the Youth Discovery Center, where the 4-H Mobile Classroom will be stationed, children and parents can learn side by side. From science experiments and natural resource activities to interactive technology, the space highlights Extension's mission to provide hands-on education that connects the classroom to real-world opportunities.

"We want students to leave the classroom with more than just a cool project," Millhouse said. "We want them to leave knowing that they can pursue a future in STEAM if they want it."

The 4-H Mobile Classroom doesn't just expose students to gadgets; it connects them to possibilities. Millhouse and her team emphasize creativity and problem-solving, encouraging students to ask, How can I use this to create something new or solve a problem in my community?

Parents see the value too.

"I love to see how it's evolved," said Starla Swartz, a former 4-H member and parent. "I really push my kids to get involved with the STEM side of things. … I see that's the way the world is going."

Supported by funding and training support from Apple, Inc., the 4-H Mobile Classroom provides these experiences at no cost to schools or communities. That accessibility, Millhouse said, is crucial to reaching underserved areas.

A statewide mission, a showcase at Farm Science Review

Each year, the 4-H Mobile Classroom makes more than 30 stops across Ohio, serving as a traveling bridge between youth and technology. Its stop at Farm Science Review is a highlight - not only because thousands of families will see it in action, but because it underscores CFAES' commitment to youth development alongside agricultural innovation.

"We don't just want to be seen as a technology bus," Millhouse said. "We're calling it the 4-H Mobile Classroom now because we want it to be something that offers a variety of learning opportunities."

By combining agricultural discovery with STEAM education, Farm Science Review offers families a chance to glimpse the future of farming and innovation - and to imagine their own children as part of that future.

As Millhouse put it, "We're giving these students an opportunity to see themselves in spaces they might not have thought were accessible to them. And that's what this is all about - opening doors and inspiring a love of learning."

Through the efforts of CFAES, OSU Extension and Ohio 4-H, the 4-H Mobile Classroom is shaping future problem-solvers, creators and leaders. And at Farm Science Review, families can experience it all while exploring the broader world of agricultural innovation.

Tickets are $15 at the gate or $10 online in advance, and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, visit fsr.osu.edu .