Agriculture is everywhere at the ND State Fair

By DALE HILDEBRAN

MINOT, N.D. - North Dakota's foremost industry, like in past years, will be the highlight of this year's North Dakota State Fair, according to Renae Korslien, fair manager.

"The State Fair is the ultimate connection between agriculture and the urban population in the state," Korslien said. "We are looking forward to educating fair attendees on the impact our state's agriculture has on the world."

This year's fair will feature two new events pertaining to agriculture - the North Dakota Ag Experience and the Agrium Seed Survivor Display. The ND Ag Experience will feature exhibits located throughout the fairgrounds in areas that currently feature agriculture. At each stop large signs will provide fun facts focused on different type of agriculture and their impact on the state. The final stop of the tour will bring fairgoers inside the State Fair Center Lobby where they will have the opportunity to fill out a quiz on what they have learned about the state's agriculture industry.

Completing the quiz will give them a chance to win $500 in cash and other great prizes. The ND Ag Experience survey will be available every day of the fair from noon until 7 p.m. Niess Impressions and KCJB radio are helping make this event possible.

Seed Survivor is an interactive display sponsored by Agrium, a fertilizer company based in Canada. This exhibit teaches fairgoers about what plants need to survive. It also instructs that plants are essential for human survival by producing food, income, oxygen and enjoyment for all of us. The exhibit features multi-media and virtual reality games, an insect video scope, a watershed center, talking walls and much more.

Those visiting the exhibit will be able to plant their own seed and take it with them through the exhibit, learning what their seed will need to survive, including water, light, healthy soil and nutrients. The Agrium Seed Survivor display will be in the lobby of the State Fair Center and will be open daily during the fair.

Other opportunities will be available throughout the fair, according to Korslien. For instance, the State Fair has partnered with the Granville FFA Chapter and the NDSU Extension Service to plant its annual crop plot in the SRT State Fair Park. This plot displays crops typical to the plains and valleys of North Dakota. This year's crops will include corn, soybeans, canola and potatoes. Stop by for a close up view of what these crops look like as they grow.

The 4-H personnel will be running a free QR Code scavenger hunt to the Ag Experience exhibit stops on Saturday-Monday, July 21-23. The wide variety of livestock shows will afford fairgoers a chance to learn about that important segment of agriculture as well. Shows are scheduled for beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, swine, goats and horses, as well as rabbits and poultry.

Machinery and equipment is an important part of agriculture and much of that equipment will be on display on Machinery Row. Some of the must see items include the John Deere S690 combine, which is the largest combine that company makes. Other manufacturers like Versatile Equipment and Case IH will be featuring their biggest and best equipment for 2012.

No matter what your interest, the State Fair will feature the factors that keep North Dakota's top industry going strong!

Original article here