"Nothing Compares" to Agricultural Education at the Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, IA (07/14/2015)(readMedia)-- The 2015 Iowa State Fair will feature expanded agricultural education including new activities focused on swine, dairy cattle and aquaculture. Fair Tour embarks this year August 13-23.

This year, Fairgoers can stop by the John Deere Agriculture Building to experience "It Takes an Iowan," a new interactive exhibit focused on Iowans as leaders in the ongoing effort to provide food for the nation and the world. The exhibit will highlight the advancement of technology to better produce food, as well as family friendly exhibits about agriculture around the world. The new display highlights Iowans as leaders in feeding the world, but also in education, technology, communication, legislation, and transportation.

A short walk from the Agriculture Building, the Animal Learning Center will feature the "Thank a Farmer Wall." The "Thank A Farmer Wall" invites anyone to leave a message for the hard-working farmers of Iowa. Fairgoers can also stop at the new Aquaculture display where they can learn about the new and growing industry of farm raised fish production in Iowa.

Located next to the Animal Learning Center, Little Hands on the Farm is celebrating its 11th Anniversary. Through this interactive adventure, kids can learn what it is like to do chores on a farm and earn play money to spend at the General Store.

Just north of the Animal Learning Center is Kids' Zone featuring the Blue Ribbon Kids' Club Tent and Seed Survivor. Seed Survivor teaches kids how seeds interact with the environment. Each participant can plant their own sunflower seed to take home. Blue Ribbon Kids' events begin at 10 a.m. every weekday and feature make and take crafts for kids based around day-specific themes like turkeys, Fair food and llamas.

The Boulevard of Dairy Breeds, located in the John and Emily Putney Family Cattle Barn, will focus on the six main breeds of dairy cattle in Iowa with new hands-on activities, cattle, baby calves and the favorite, "I Milked a Cow" display.

Returning for the second year at the Fair is the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Ag Commodity Carnival located in the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building. Aimed at third through eighth graders, this activity teaches kids what it takes to raise a pig and how to discover profit or loss. The Carnival will be operating August 13-22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Also returning to the 2015 Fair are kid-friendly favorites; Ag-Venture Discovery Trail and Grape Getaway.

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to the 2015 Iowa State Fair, August 13-23, 2015. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.