State Fair exhibits to highlight Purdue Agriculture

Located primarily in the Our Land Pavilion at the state fairgrounds, the educational exhibits will run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily Aug. 9-20.

Throughout this time, Danica Kirkpatrick, events coordinator for the Purdue College of Agriculture, said approximately 150,000 visitors of all ages and backgrounds will visit the exhibits.

"We want people to walk away with a better understanding of how Purdue agriculture affects Indiana, especially those who may not come from a rural background," she said.

The following is a full list of the Purdue exhibits:

• Agriculture: Fueling the Future takes a look at ethanol and biodiesel fuels that are made from corn and soybeans, safer for the environment and fueling our energy independence. This exhibit shows visitors how fuels work and gives them a chance to test their knowledge about biofuels.

• Break Bad Habits, Not Your Bones is an exhibit that brings light to osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and makes them prone to fracture. Because this disease is often a result of a long-term calcium imbalance, the exhibit targets a young audience and shows them how to make smart nutritional choices for healthy bones. The exhibit also encourages adults to get tested.

• EAB: The Green Menace delves deeper into the pest that's invading more areas of Indiana — Emerald Ash Borer. Although these green beetles are small, they threaten Indiana's 147 million ash trees. This exhibit explains why the insect is so destructive and how to help control it.

• Locally Grown, Locally Owned sheds light on the way to get the freshest produce and help the local economy at the same time. This exhibit teaches consumers the advantages of buying from a local farmer while simultaneously showing producers the benefits of selling their products close to home. The exhibit also highlights the amount of energy it takes to get produce to a local market versus from out of state.

• Nano in Your Neighborhood is a display that allows fair-goers to explore how such small particles can mean such large breakthroughs in science and technology. By taking a stroll through Nanotown, visitors will be able to see how nanotechnology can affect custom cancer-fighting drugs, batteries and fuel cells with enormous energy capacity, very strong and light building materials, faster computers and more.

• Slow the Flow for Clean Water is a miniature golf course that demonstrates how slowing the flow of rainwater results in cleaner water for drinking, recreation and life. With golf balls representing water drops, participants can choose the droplet's path and see how it affects the water quality.

• Superweeds are the result of herbicide resistance. Because these weeds could cost farmers millions of dollars and lead to yards choked with weeds, this exhibit shows people how weeds develop herbicide resistance and what they can do to slow its development.

• Weather Central brings hands-on weather-related activities to the State Fair. At this display visitors of all ages can learn about advances in weather forecasting, the perils of lightning and what causes weather. Participants also will have the chance to create their own weather broadcast live at the fair.

• What's the Buzz on the Mosquito and You? Because mosquitoes do more than just make people itch, this exhibit shows visitors how these disease-carrying pests live, breed and transmit disease agents. In addition, visitors will learn how to keep common items from becoming backyard breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

For information on exhibits and activities sponsored by Purdue, visit the Purdue State Fair Web site.

Writer: Jennifer Stewart, (765) 494-8402, jsstewart@alumni.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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