Ohio State is a land-grant college. And the land has granted us a lot more than the serenity of the Oval, a really big Shoe by the Olentangy River and space to grow a lot of Buckeye trees. It has granted Buckeyes everywhere a legacy of giving back.

OSU has a long, storied connection with the land and with agricultural education. The land provides a location for the school and its teaching opportunities, a home away from home for students who, since 1873, have harvested more than 600,000 degrees, and a sense of home for all OSU alumni.

Greg and Jane Cannon have given back to OSU through their land for 22 years. They have provided space for OSU agricultural education projects, employment for OSU agricultural students, a venue for the Delaware County extension service working with OSU and even flowers for Buckeye fundraising events.

Now, the Cannons’ land, with its many connections to OSU, is for sale.

The 25-acre plot north of East Liberty, Ohio is the site of their family business, Bountiful Growers, and home to their son Keith and daughter Sarah.

Sarah, who grew up on the property, said “I had a love of fashion early on, and growing up around the nursery, with the colors and the way they go together made sense to me.”

Sarah graduated from OSU in summer 2009 with a degree in human ecology. She uses her fashion sense in her employment in the clothing industry.

The Cannons’ property has been the source of many benefits to OSU.

“Many OSU [agricultural] students have worked with us over the years,” Greg Cannon said. “We’ve offered them placement here to learn about plantings, horticultural treatments and even retail aspects of [the nursery] business.”

Jane Cannon echoed her husband’s response.

“When the OSU College of Nursing was holding a fundraiser, we provided geraniums,” she said.

Rob Leeds holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OSU in agricultural education and economy and is with Delaware County Extension Service.

“The Cannons have been a resource for OSU’s Master Gardener Program and generous in other ways, for example holding raffles, and especially with Green Thumb,” Leeds said.

Green Thumb is the Master Gardener Volunteer Program at OSU, which educates gardeners about the land, what to plant, where to plant and the use of pesticides.

Open houses are scheduled for May 15 and 22.