Exhibits, crop report, among Purdue Ag events at state fair
This is one of three panels of an exhibit on how to stop bed bugs from spreading and eliminate them. The exhibit is one of several from Purdue University that will be in on display in the Pioneer Hi-Bred Our Land Pavilion during the Indiana State Fair. (Purdue Agricultural Communication illustration)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Educational displays about bed bugs, grain bin safety and how veterinary medicine can advance human health will be featured among Purdue University exhibits at the Indiana State Fair Aug. 5-21
They are among other activities, including analysis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's August crop production report, Purdue Day and recognition of outstanding women in agriculture, which will involve Purdue Agriculture during the run of the fair.
Purdue Extension will have museum-quality interactive exhibits in Pioneer Hi-Bred Our Land Pavilion, said Danica Kirkpatrick, events and educational activities coordinator for Purdue Agriculture.
"Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite" shows how homeowners can avoid and control bed bugs. "Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses" will explain to fairgoers how innovations in animal care may lead to solutions for human medicine.
Grain bin safety will be another highlighted exhibit topic as avoidable accidents continue to occur on Indiana farms.
New this year, students from a Purdue agronomy class have created posters on topics including how amaranth, often considered a weed, potentially could be a nutritious leaf and grain crop.
In addition, visitors to the pavilion can learn about the difference between weather and climate, explore materials from Extension's The Education Store, get answers from Master Gardeners and learn about Indiana's signature wine, Traminette, at the Indiana Wine Grape Council exhibit.
Fairgoers will receive a prize for completing a scavenger hunt by finding trivia from the exhibits.
There also will be cockroach races led twice daily by the Purdue entomology department.
"Cockroach racing is a favorite activity for families at the fair, and like all of the other exhibits in Our Land Pavilion, it's free," Kirkpatrick said.
Other Purdue Agriculture activities include:
* A review of the USDA's August crop production report, at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 11 in Our Land Pavilion. A panel of Purdue and government agricultural experts will dissect the USDA's report on the development of major crops and give insight into what it might mean for farmers and the economy. Panelists are Joe Kelsay, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Chris Hurt, a Purdue agricultural economist; and Greg Preston, director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service office in Indiana. Moderator will be Jim Mintert, assistant director of Purdue Extension.
* Purdue Day on Aug. 12 will include a variety of Purdue Agriculture booths and a cricket-spitting competition among other activities with Purdue representatives from across campus.
* Presentation of the annual Women in Agriculture awards, at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 12 in Our Land Pavilion. Two women will be recognized for their achievements and leadership in Indiana agriculture.
"Every day is Purdue day at the Indiana State Fair," Kirkpatrick said. "Purdue Extension educators, faculty, staff and students are always working in Our Land Pavilion to help people engage with the exhibits. Fairgoers also can find them in the barns, 4-H halls, Pioneer Village and in many other venues at the fair."
Our Land Pavilion will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information and to see the complete Indiana State Fair program, visit www.indianastatefair.com
Writer: Lisa Schluttenhofer, 765-496-2384, lschlutt@purdue.edu
Source: Danica Kirkpatrick, 765-494-9113, dkirkpat@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page