Purdue Agriculture to be well-represented at state fair

July 7, 2005

Purdue Agriculture to be well-represented at state fair

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Visitors to the 2005 Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis will have the opportunity to learn about Purdue University's College of Agriculture through several displays and activities.

The Pioneer Hi-Bred Our Land Pavilion will feature eight displays about various aspects of Purdue Extension. Displays will be staffed by members of the College of Agriculture and Purdue Extension employees and volunteers.

"We're excited to highlight several activities happening in the College of Agriculture and through the Extension Service. The state fair is a great place for us to engage with the people of Indiana and present them with educational material in a fun way," said Danica Kirkpatrick, events and educational activities coordinator.

One of the larger displays, titled New Ventures: A Course for Small Business, will include a miniature golf course that teaches entrepreneurship. Visitors navigating the course will learn how Purdue helps guide new business owners.

Another prominent display will feature wood products from Indiana's forests. Visitors will be able to see many Hoosier-made products, from cabinetry to musical instruments. They will learn more about the present, past and future of Indiana's forests and wood products industry, and the scope and economic importance of the state's forest industry.

Other displays will include:

• Weather Central - Created through a partnership with Purdue and LIN-TV, visitors of all ages will have a chance to appear on camera and deliver their own weather forecast while learning about advances in weather forecasting, the perils of lightning and what makes weather.

• EAB: The Green Menace - Learn about the emerald ash borer, small green beetles that threaten Indiana's 147 million ash trees, and how you can help Purdue and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources save the ash trees.

• Where Does Your Money Go? - This exhibit will teach visitors how to avoid spending leaks so they can use their money for more important needs and bigger future rewards.

• Biotechnology: A Tool for Changing the Recipe - Learn how scientists improve plants to react better to drought, disease and insects.

• Mission to Mars - Find out how Purdue is developing technologies to help the National Aeronautics and Space Administration build a future base on Mars and help astronauts survive there.

• Veterinary medicine - See how veterinary surgeons do a hip replacement on a pet, and learn more about how Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine works to protect animal and human health.

• Indiana Wine Grape Council - This exhibit is in the Marsh Ag/Hort building, and will look at the history of winemaking in Indiana and feature different types of wine currently produced in the state today.

Purdue Agriculture will also be well-represented at the state fair's Purdue Day on Wednesday, Aug. 17. Four areas from the College of Agriculture will join several other Purdue programs lining Main Street with tents, tables and exhibits. The Office of Academic Programs will have a display featuring the Top 10 Reasons to Graduate from Purdue's College of Agriculture. Agricultural Communications will feature the Education Store, agronomy will feature the Extension Web site, and agricultural and biological engineers will display quarter-scale tractors.

The Indiana State Fair runs Aug. 10-21. For more information about Purdue University at the state fair visit their Web site. Fair tickets are $6 at the gate, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $5 at Marsh Supermarkets, CVS pharmacies, Union Federal Banks, all county Farm Bureau offices, and the Marten House Hotel in Indianapolis. Click It or Ticket Free Parking will be available through the 38th Street Main Gate; Gate 6 on Fall Creek Parkway; Gate 16 on the fairgrounds' northwest corner, or at the Indiana School for the Deaf on 42nd Street.

Writer: Jennifer Culy, (765) 494-8402, jculy@purdue.edu

Source: Danica Kirkpatrick, (765) 494-9113, dkirkpat@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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