The Grand Concourse at the Iowa State Fair.
The Iowa State Fair opens its annual run in Des Moines today. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says the fair isn’t just all about entertainment, it’s an educational experience too.
“It is a valuable way for folks to come out and have some fun, but be able to learn some things. Sometimes the kids are the entree point where the kid wants to pet a lamb as they are going by, and the parents ask some questions that are probably just as valuable for the parent as they are for the kid,” Northey says. He says you can find out about every aspect of agriculture at the fair.
“There’s really few events like that where ag is on such display for folks to come and be around,” according to Northey. “They can reach out and touch it and they can talk to farmers and farm kids. It is a very valuable thing for ag communication.”
The fair runs through August 21st.
By Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars