State Fair allows UNL students to demonstrate knowledge

A little girl gnaws on a corn dog while proudly holding a balloon in the other hand. A couple grips each other's hands as they take on a ride on the midway. Rusty old tractors painted red, green and blue line up against a barn. A boy in a 4-H shirt tugs on the rope tied around his stubborn sheep.

The Nebraska State Fair is back in full swing this year with all the familiar sights and sounds that bring people from across the state to one location. But this year, the "grand affair" has moved from its home in Lincoln to new territory in Grand Island. Even with a road trip of about two hours, several groups from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are continuing involvement this year, including students involved with 4-H, the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute and other students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

"As a council, we have maintained presence at State Fair for several years in one way, shape or form," said Robert "Skip" Hecox, head counselor of NAYI and a junior agricultural economics major.

UNL was well-represented Saturday at the fairgrounds.

One of the largest exhibits set up by UNL is the Birthing Pavilion. Here, the process of birth is shown from beginning to end with sheep, pigs and cows. This popular exhibit is cosponsored by Nebraska Pork Producers Association and Nebraska CattleWomen, but is largely run by first- and second-year veterinary students involved in UNL's Pre-Veterinary Club. First-year students are responsible for the day shift, where they care for the animals and talk to spectators.

"Communication is a very important skill for them to learn," said Racheal Slattery, project coordinator for veterinary and biomedical sciences at UNL and assistant for the birthing exhibit.

Second-year veterinary students relieve the first-year students at 7 p.m. and stay overnight at the birthing area. These students do many chores in the area and sleep in intervals in order to keep track of the animals at all times.

They stay until 9 a.m. on the weekends, but because of the fair's distance from Lincoln this year, they head back at 6 a.m. on weekdays, to get to classes on time.

"It's way better than the tent, let's put it that way," Slattery said about the new facilities on the fairgrounds in Grand Island.

When the fair couldn't be in Lincoln, Lincoln came to the fair.

Student volunteers in the 4-H area helped with many on-site competitions. CASNR got more hands-on with a booth in the sheep barn, where anyone can spin the "Did You Know ..." wheel to win a prize.

A CASNR booth in the exhibition building was giving away a UNL scholarship, the 4-H building advertised being a UNL Extension and posters from the UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources displayed facts about swine, sheep, beef and safety.

NAYI members are "not limited to simply having a NAYI booth at the Fair," Hecox said. "From helping with livestock competitions to assisting various commodity booths, we have managed to get our message out while helping to promote other exhibits at the state fair."

RoxanneSiel@

dailynebraskan.com