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August 7, 2003

Purdue continues tradition at the Indiana State Fair

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will continue Purdue Days at the Indiana State Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 13 – marking its fourth year of community visits throughout Indiana.

While Purdue has long been a presence at the state fair, this will mark the second year of universitywide participation.

"The state fair is a great, centralized location where we can meet with our friends and give fairgoers an inside glimpse of Purdue, allowing everyone to see the fascinating ways our education and research impacts their daily lives and economy," said Don Gentry, vice provost for the Office of Engagement.

Purdue also will hit the road this school year to visit as many as six other Indiana communities – including Jasper, South Bend, Columbus, Gary and Bloomington. University officials have logged 50 full-day visits to communities around the state since President Martin C. Jischke took office three years ago.

From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 13 visitors to the state fair will have the opportunity to see more than 50 Purdue interactive booths and displays, attend performances, and visit with university leaders and some well-known alumni.

"The objective is to offer as many Purdue booths as possible that showcase the university's schools, departments and achievements," Gentry said.

Some of the Purdue displays will be located in Exposition Hall, off Main Street, including those featuring Purdue's Discovery Park and the partnership with Indiana 2016.

Purdue's affiliation with the Indiana 2016 task force was initiated by Indiana's first lady, Judy O'Bannon, to encourage individuals, organizations and communities to set their vision on the future of Indiana and how to make it a reality by the year 2016, the state's 200th birthday. Judy O'Bannon is scheduled to be visiting the Indiana 2016 displays between noon and 3 p.m.

Some of these high-tech, futuristic displays include interactive, haptic interface for nanotechnology; cyber identity-theft games; state-of-the-art biometrics that are being used and developed for homeland security efforts; a live, interactive ocean life display; plants used to clean the environment; and the national Rube Goldberg Contest winning machine and Purdue teammates who appeared this spring on "The Late Show with David Letterman." The Rube machine will be running throughout the day.

In addition to the displays and demonstrations, Purdue alumni are scheduled to be on hand and sign autographs near the Purdue tents, which will be located on Main Street.

Alumni who will be available at scheduled times throughout the day include:

9 a.m. – Mark Herrmann, former Purdue quarterback and color commentator for the Indianapolis Colts, along with former Purdue wide receiver Bart Burrell.

10 a.m. – Angela Buchman, meteorologist for WISH-TV 8 in Indianapolis

Noon – Brian Cardinal, former Purdue basketball forward.

1 p.m. – Kevin Gregory, chief meteorologist at WRTV 6 in Indianapolis.

2 p.m. – Joe Patacsil, national champion wrestler, two-time Big Ten champion and four-time All American, along with Leroy Keyes, former Purdue football running back and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

3 p.m. –Christy Jayne Stallings, Purdue's Golden Girl.

4 p.m. – Mark Brown, astronaut and mission specialist for the 1989 Columbia launch.

Stage performances and demonstrations also will take place throughout the day, including ice sculpting at 9:30 a.m., insects as food at 10:30 a.m., folk music by Lora McCaffry at noon, Purdue Musical Organizations at 1 p.m., humane training techniques for dogs at 3 p.m., and Secrets of the Theatre: Costume History on Stage at 4 p.m.

A pep rally will conclude the performances at 5 p.m.

Later that evening, radio personality Garrison Keillor will take center stage at the Marsh Grandstand at 7:30 p.m. Those interested only in tickets for the show can call the Indiana State Fair box office at (317) 927-1482, Ticketmaster at (317) 239-5151 or order online. Tickets for the Keillor performance are $30 and $25 and include admission to the fair.

For more information about the fair, exhibits, entertainment, 4-H winners, as well as maps and directions, visit the web site.

Writer: Jesica E. Webb, (765) 494-2079, jwebb@purdue.edu

Sources: Don Gentry, (765) 494-7512

Pankaj Sharma, Discovery Park intercenter research director, (765) 494-4893

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

 

Note to Journalists: Advance video is available by contacting Jesica Webb, (765) 494-2079, pager: (765) 423-7326, jwebb@purdue.edu. Photos and video from the fair on Aug. 13 also will be available.

Related Web sites:
Purdue Day at the State Fair
Purdue events


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