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FRANKFORT, Ky. — “Agriculture: It’s Your Future.”
That is the theme of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s exhibits at the 102nd Kentucky State Fair Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
“The state fair has traditionally been a showcase of the best Kentucky agriculture has to offer,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “The Department’s theme and displays this year will show how important agriculture is in the everyday lives of Kentuckians and how it will become even more important in the years to come.”
The KDA’s kid-friendly South Wing exhibits have been redesigned and will feature the journey grain makes from seed to the livestock feed trough and to our plates. A real cattle chute with scales will be on display. Another part of the exhibit will focus on biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel made from corn and soybeans grown in Kentucky. Another exhibit will show unusual products made from corn, such as carpet and cat litter.
Among the interactive exhibits will be an all-terrain vehicle with a global positioning system (GPS) on it, showing how the ATV can be found in the event of a rollover accident. The exhibit will explain how farmers are using cutting-edge GPS technology to save money on fertilizer and pesticide.
Other exhibits will feature:
- a remote-controlled tractor course, where kids can learn about farm safety and crops;
- an agriculture mural that the kids can color; and
- the ever-popular chick hatch, where fairgoers can watch baby chicks hatch from eggs in a glass incubator.
The KDA’s West Hall display will feature the Department’s one-of-a-kind tractor rollover simulator; the Smart-board interactive computer, where people can test their knowledge about agricultural topics; exhibits of fruits, vegetables, bees, tobacco, hay and grain; a Kentucky Proud products booth, and a second chick hatch. The KDA’s Office of Consumer and Environmental Protection will host a booth that displays how the Department affects the lives of every Kentuckian every day. A Kentucky Proud tent will be located outside the West Hall.
The fair will kick off Aug. 17 with the Commodity Breakfast, the KDA’s annual salute to Kentucky’s farm commodity organizations. The country ham show will follow, and the grand champion ham will be auctioned for charity at the Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast on Aug. 24.
Division of Show and Fair Promotion staff will work the livestock shows that will take place throughout the fair, and Division of Animal Health staff will check health papers for all animals entered in the shows. The livestock schedule includes: dairy goats, poultry, pigeons and rabbits, Aug. 17-20; dairy cattle, Aug. 17-21; mules and jacks, Aug. 17-24; miniature horse show, Aug. 25-26; boer goats, Aug. 18-22; sheep, swine and beef cattle, Aug. 22-27, and draft horse pull, Aug. 27.
Again this year, Department staff will spray for mosquitoes and inspect amusement rides for safety.
Headlining concerts will be the American Idols Tour, Brad Paisley with Carrie Underwood and Eric Church, Rascal Flatts with Gary Allan, and Montgomery Gentry with Joe Nichols.
The World’s Championship Horse Show will be Aug. 20-26. More than 2,000 horses will compete for $1 million in premiums. The event crowns world champion Saddlebreds in different divisions.
For more information, go to www.kystatefair.org . Tickets can be purchased from the Web site or at the gate.
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