Reaching rural communities at the 2026 Farm Science Review
Amid the fields of goldenrod and livestock, visitors at this year’s Farm Science Review (FSR) could deepen their understanding of preventative and maternal healthcare, chronic disease management and more.
Held by the Ohio State College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), this event has helped individuals explore new ideas in agriculture for over six decades. This year’s event took place from September 22 to September 24 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, west of Columbus.
This annual event allows the college to engage in opportunities to educate rural communities through our research, service, practice and educational materials.
The College of Pharmacy had a strong representation at FSR, with three tables led by Myriam Shaw Ojeda, PharmD, MPH, assistant clinical professor; Dan Michel, PhD, senior lecturer and director of the College of Pharmacy Learning Lab at COSI; and Anne Goodman, MPH, community outreach senior representative.
Several students from across the college volunteered to provide educational materials to community members. Class of 2027 PharmD students Ashley Blackford and Melanie Ruzga, and Class of 2028 PharmD student Josie Gill, volunteered at Dr. Shaw Ojeda’s booth and provided attendees with resources on gestational diabetes, GLP-1s and more.
“Developing a gestational diabetes resource was an important step in expanding access to maternal health information across Ohio,” Gill said. “Introducing the resource to the community at Farm Science Review gave me the opportunity to facilitate meaningful conversations and engage with attendees about gestational diabetes.”
With flu season just around the corner, Dr. Michel brought vaccine education to life with two hands-on activities created by his students.
“My students and I were able to reach more than 500 attendees with vaccine education, including some people who came in with hesitations,” Dr. Michel said. “The games gave us a fun, approachable way to start conversations without judgment.”
Generation Rx returned this year with a rainbow wheel of prizes and resources regarding medication safety. The booth was staffed by Anne Goodman, MPH, community outreach senior representative.
“The 2026 Farm Science Review was an excellent event where we engaged with over 1,000 individuals of all ages from across the state,” Goodman said. “Generation Rx student pharmacists and outreach staff were able to share simple strategies for medication safety, storage and reducing prescription drug misuse."
