In the early morning hours of February 28, an EF2 tornado ripped through London, Ohio. Winds as high as 130 mph tore off roofs, snapped trees, and battered barns and outbuildings. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
At the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, home of the annual Farm Science Review, 42 of the 62 structures on site were damaged or destroyed — including the iconic building on Wheat Street owned by Ohio’s electric cooperatives.
In the aftermath of the storm, about half of the great metal roof, clearly identified by the “Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (Your Touchstone Energy Cooperatives)” painted on top, was lying battered in a nearby field, surrounded by debris. Whimsically waving Willie Wiredhand, the smiling co-op mascot who had greeted visitors for years, was, well, worse for wear. And the machine that had dependably produced piles of popcorn over the years had been pummeled.
The remains of OEC's crowd-favorite popcorn machine.
While Willie won’t be resurrected, the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Education Center — free popcorn and all — will be back, joining hundreds of farm-focused exhibitors September 17 to 19 for the 2024 Farm Science Review.
“It may look a bit different, but we’ll be there,” says Missy Kidwell, manager of cooperative development for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, noting that a new building, still under construction as of early August, was expected to be finished and ready to go in time.
Nick Zachrich, Farm Science Review manager for Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, says the farm show is on schedule as well — though preparation for this year’s event has been anything but usual.
“There was extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure,” Zachrich says. “We’ve been working on the electrical lines and water over the summer, and we’ve had to repair or replace structures, including buildings that weren’t hit directly but were damaged by debris.
“We are fully committed to hosting this year’s show and coming back stronger than ever, which is in our nature as a farmer-focused facility and event,” Zachrich says.
Visitors who have attended FSR in prior years will notice some changes, Zachrich says. “We lost the antique building and a building that hosts 10-by-10 exhibitors. Some of those may be moving to new locations, so we encourage people to use the program and digital directory to find exhibitors.”
As it has for more than 60 years, Farm Science Review will feature a wide variety of commercial exhibitors, ranging from trailer dealers and companies showcasing large farm equipment like combines and sprayers, to livestock systems and feed companies, Zachrich says.
“We’ve got a pretty good lineup, including 50 new exhibitors,” he says. “One of the trends we see is growth in drones and robotics, including previous and new exhibitors.”
Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives has played a key role in Farm Science Review for most of its history, and the co-ops’ building is one of the highest-traffic areas each year.
The building destroyed by the tornado was built in 2008; before that, cooperative exhibits were housed in a large tent. The move to a permanent building was driven by a major storm that hit FSR one year, damaging the displays in the co-ops’ tent.
“Our new building will be essentially the same structure, but with some upgrades,” Kidwell says. “Once we saw the way the tornado destroyed the old one, we decided to update the building method.”
The new building, expected to be completed by Sept. 1, will allow Ohio’s electric cooperatives to once again showcase advances in efficiency, safety, and renewable energy.
“One of our goals is to promote energy efficiency,” Kidwell says. “We’ll have vendors demonstrating geothermal energy solutions, insulation, heat pump options, and other products and services to help people be more efficient.” In addition, energy advisors from several Ohio co-ops will be available to answer questions, and co-op lineworkers will provide popular live-line safety demonstrations. Visitors will have a chance to learn about youth programs and test their knowledge about electricity and cooperatives to receive useful prizes like rain gauges — and co-op members can drop off the entry form in the back of this magazine for a chance to win a $100 credit on their electric bills.
“We are working hard and we’re committed to getting the building and displays completed, to represent cooperatives and be there for members and the public,” Kidwell says.
This year’s Farm Science Review will emphasize the message of resilience, Zachrich says. “As we rebuild, we’ll be making improvements in infrastructure, planning for the future and not just today,” he says. “Our educational efforts from OSU and extension educators will look at what farmers can do to prepare themselves as we see more and more tornadoes, and if it does happen, how to respond so their business isn’t majorly affected.
“Resiliency is real life for farmers and this year, we’re right here experiencing it, too.”
Farm Science Review, Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 St. Rte. 38 NE, London. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sept. 17–18 and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 19. Tickets are $10 online, at county OSU Extension offices, and at participating agribusinesses and $15 at the gate. For more information, visit fsr.osu.edu.
