Onondaga Grown Named Presenting Sponsor of New MOST GROW Exhibit

2/19/25—Syracuse, NY: The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) is excited to announce that Onondaga Grown, a campaign of the Onondaga Agriculture Council, is the naming sponsor of the MOST’s newest permanent exhibit—Onondaga Grown presents GROW. Debuting March 29, Onondaga Grown presents GROW is a brand-new 2,500-square-foot installation on the museum’s mezzanine focused on agriculture and food systems in Central New York.

“We’re excited to highlight Onondaga County’s robust agricultural community through this innovative exhibit. MOST visitors will gain a deep understanding of how our farm and food systems operate, including advanced technology and the latest research-backed practices that our local farmers and producers are using today. This exhibit demonstrates important collaboration between consumers, farmers, producers, businesses, and community organizations to support and grow our local agricultural economy,” said Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County Executive.

The exhibit features a six-stall farmer's market where visitors can "buy" apples, corn, eggs, maple and dairy products along with seasonal items. Instead of a currency check out, the scanned items will provide food and nutrition information. In addition, there will be a tractor and trailer photo opportunity where visitors learn about food distribution. The tactile crop field will showcase the "three sisters", which originated in our Indigenous communities. And in summer the GROW food distribution center will open, teaching how items go from farms to mass produced food.

MOST president Lauren Kochian commented that, “We’re incredibly excited to launch Onondaga Grown presents GROW. We’ve been working toward our vision for an agriculture-focused exhibit for many years and it’s such an important and valuable addition to the MOST. The science and technology of agriculture is a combination of some of the most cutting-edge and innovative technologies along with centuries-old farming practices. And it's integral to our community's economy, education, and workforce. GROW is hands-on agriculture education that is fun and engaging, teaching kids and adults, in the way the MOST does best. We are so grateful for the support of Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Onondaga Grown for their commitment to robust STEM education in our community.”



“We can’t wait for visitors to step into this immersive exhibit and see for themselves how Onondaga County is at the forefront of agricultural science and technology. Our hope is that the MOST exhibit will inspire visitors to get involved in Onondaga County agriculture—from choosing locally produced food to advocating for practices that protect our valuable farmland,” said David Knapp, Onondaga County Legislator and Onondaga County Agriculture Council Chairman.

The mission of the Onondaga County Agriculture Council is to support the agricultural community through education, promotion and advocacy programs. The Onondaga Grown awareness campaign runs each year from June through December to connect the community with the 570+ farms in Onondaga County. The goal is to inform the community about all the goodness grown right here in Onondaga County – and where to find it at local farms, farmers markets, grocers, retailers, and restaurants. The Agriculture Council also stages ON Farm Fest each September, giving thousands of attendees a family-friendly day of fun visiting local farms for tours and activities. Learn more at onondagagrown.com.

The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) is a hands-on science and technology museum located in historic Armory Square in downtown Syracuse. The MOST is focused on dynamic science education that engages learners of all ages and abilities. It features 35,000 square feet of interactive permanent and traveling exhibits plus the state-of-the-art National Grid ExploraDome theatre. The museum operates numerous STEM education programs and community outreach events throughout the year. The MOST's mission is to provide informal science learning experiences that ignite curiosity, encourage discovery, and inspire investigation. The MOST is open from 9:30 to 5, Thursday through Sunday, and is open for most school holidays and breaks. To learn more, visit most.org.