COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Farm Science Review will induct Clayton W. Rose III and Jerry Ardrey into the 29th class of honorees for the Review’s Hall of Fame, an honor held by 76 others for their contribution to the event.
The Farm Science Review, which will take place this year from Sept. 18-20 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London, Ohio, offers farmers and other visitors the opportunity to learn about the latest agricultural innovations from experts from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University.
Jerry Ardrey
Ardrey is a native of London who has been in the automotive sales industry his entire life. He worked for his family business as a vehicle dealer and continued with the industry for his career selling truck bodies and other accessories. Ardrey also served in the Air National Guard. His generosity toward Farm Science Review is evident as he continues to offer wisdom and business knowledge as well as donations, said Nick Zachrich, manager of Farm Science Review.
Ardrey initially connected with Farm Science Review some 50 years ago by providing trucks for exhibitors that were selling dump beds for grain trucks. After just a few years, Ardrey began working for one of the exhibiting companies and continued selling various dump beds for the next 46 years, attending the Review as an exhibitor. He worked for three different companies in the industry, making sure each company participated as an exhibitor at the Review.
“Jerry was a model exhibitor for decades at Farm Science Review,” Zachrich said.
“He has always been willing to give honest feedback in a professional manner, both when something is great or needs improvement.”
Zachrich credits Ardrey’s industry knowledge with helping Farm Science Review managers market the event.
"He saw that the products appealed to not just farmers but also to the implement dealers and commercial agricultural suppliers at Farm Science Review," Zachrich said.
In many cases, the sales Ardrey made while exhibiting at the event were to local governments, including townships, counties and even cities.
"Ardrey knew that many of the public officials buying trucks were also farmers," Zachrich said. "His insights have helped management understand how to market Farm Science Review to a wider audience."
Clayton W. Rose III
Rose, a CPA, has been active with the Farm Science Review since 1969 when he started as a student employee while in high school and continued through his graduation from Ohio State in December 1974.
While working in public accounting, he remained active at the Review, managing the gate ticket sales.
Starting in 1981, he has overseen the gate sales making sure that the money from tickets sold was accounted for and secure.
"He is continually evaluating the ticket sales process and recommending practices and procedures to help make the admissions process run more efficiently," Zachrich said.
Rose was a founding member of the Farm Science Review/Farm Operations Alumni Society and served as its chief financial officer since its inception. He also served as its president. With Clay’s leadership, the society and its members have helped endow six different funds through the Ohio State University Foundation.
“Clay’s efforts to consistently improve the admissions process at Farm Science Review are a real blessing,” Zachrich said.
"Tickets sales are an aspect of Farm Science Review that will most certainly run smoothly during a busy three days because of Clay's expertise and leadership in this area."
Rose recently retired from Rea & Associates after almost 44 years in public accounting. He has also served in the Dublin community as a member of the Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors for 30 years, the Kiwanis Club of Dublin for 37 years and the Dublin Irish Festival steering committee.
WRITER(S):
Alayna DeMartini
demartini.3@osu.edu
614-292-9833
SOURCE(S):
Nick Zachrich
zachrich.13@osu.edu
614-292-4278
https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/farm-science-review-inducts-two-more-hall-fame