Agricultural education will be a prominent theme at the 2016 Iowa State Fair, with activities hosted at the John Deere Agriculture Building between Aug. 11 and 21.
The event, which will be held in Des Moines, Ia., is set to feature interactive exhibits that hone in on the technology used in the agricultural industry.
The “It Takes an Iowan” exhibit at the John Deere Agriculture Building will focus on Iowans as leaders in the continuous effort to provide food for people across the country. There will also be family-friendly exhibits about how agriculture operates around the world.
Activities dedicated to swine, dairy cattle, turkey, and other animals will give children insight into this sector of the industry. The Animal Learning Center will feature hatching baby chicks, ducks, and ostriches. There will also be a “Thank a Farmer Magic Show” that will highlight the impact of agriculture on everyday lives.
Tickets for the fair will be $12 at the gate for adults (age 12 and older). Child tickets for those between the ages of 6 and 11 will be $6 at the gate, and children under 5 will be admitted for free.
The Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state, and it is one of the oldest agricultural expositions in the country. More than one million people from around the world attend the event each year, which is located 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines.
Historically, the fair had been hosted one week before Labor Day. In recent years, it has been pushed up to accommodate earlier school start dates.