Explore, learn, taste and discover at Farm Science Review’s living lab Sept. 16-18

LONDON, Ohio - Where can you hike to a pawpaw orchard for a fruit tasting, learn to cast a fly rod, identify invasive plants and test your knowledge of tree species - all in one day?

At the Gwynne Conservation Area during Farm Science Review, set for Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, visitors can do just that while also discovering practical strategies for managing Ohio's land, water and woodlands.

Hosted by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), Farm Science Review draws more than 100,000 visitors annually and is a premier showcase of agricultural innovation, conservation and education.

Just a short shuttle ride from the main grounds, the 67-acre Gwynne Conservation Area is one of the event's most immersive spaces.

Managed by CFAES, it serves as a "living lab," where visitors can see conservation in action and learn directly from natural resource professionals, Ohio State University Extension - CFAES' outreach arm - and partner organizations.

"The Gwynne offers a little something for everyone with an interest in natural resources," said Carrie Brown, educator, agriculture and natural resources, OSU Extension. "Featuring a pond, wetland, tallgrass prairie, stream, pawpaw orchard and forage plots, participants can learn by attending presentations given by experts or by taking a curated wagon ride offered throughout the day."

This year's schedule is packed with opportunities to dig into conservation practices firsthand. Visitors can join a pond walkabout focused on aquatic vegetation, take part in tree and invasive species identification hikes, or explore forage demonstration plots at the Forages and Grazing Tent.

Many of the programs are intentionally interactive.

On Tuesday morning, the Central Ohio Fly Fishers will lead a one-hour session on the basics of fly fishing, giving participants the chance to practice their casting. Later that morning, visitors can hike to the Gwynne's pawpaw orchard, where Extension experts will discuss pawpaw propagation.

The session will wrap up in the Gwynne's cabin, with a presentation on pawpaw basics by Valerie Libbey of the North American Pawpaw Growers Association, complete with a tasting of pawpaw ice cream.

Other highlights include a demonstration on electrofishing to assess aquatic life, a session on keeping families and animals safe from ticks, and a presentation on opportunities for aquaculture and aquaponics in Ohio.

"It doesn't get more immersive than that," Brown said.

One of the highlights of this year's programming is a new series of forestry education sessions designed specifically for high school students preparing for the state FFA Forestry Career Development Event (CDE).

"This will be the first year that we will be specifically providing education sessions aimed at high schoolers preparing for the upcoming state FFA Forestry CDE," said Jim Downs, who is helping coordinate the program. "We will be offering sessions on tree identification, equipment identification, forest measurements, insects and diseases, timber stand improvement, and chainsaw parts and troubleshooting."

Downs said these sessions do more than prepare students for competition. They also help foster a deeper understanding of sustainable forestry practices by connecting classroom learning with real-world conservation work.

"For me, there is a personal connection to assisting in this type of education," he added. "I initially became interested in forestry as a potential career field as a high school student while preparing for the FFA Forestry CDE."

In addition to forestry, the Gwynne schedule features dozens of sessions on topics ranging from soil management strategies and pollinator gardening to woodland management and wildlife habitat restoration.

Visitors can learn to spot the invasive spotted lanternfly, hear about recovery efforts for endangered species like the rusty patched bumble bee, and discover how native plants can benefit both landscapes and biodiversity.

The diversity of programming is intentional, Brown said.

"The Gwynne is designed to give people not only the science behind conservation but also the chance to experience it directly - whether it's learning how to improve a pasture, cast a fishing line or recognize an invasive species," she said. "When people leave the Gwynne, we hope they walk away with knowledge they can apply on their own land, in their own communities and in their everyday lives.

"That's the power of learning by doing."

A full schedule of presentations at the Gwynne Conservation Area during Farm Science Review is available at go.osu.edu/gwynne2025.

Tickets for Farm Science Review are $15 online at fsr.osu.edu, at participating county offices of OSU Extension and at local agribusinesses. Tickets are $20 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.