CALF_News_December_2021_January_2022

22 CALF News • December 2021 | January 2022 • www.calfnews.net By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor W hat is the function of a state fair? Ask 10 people and you will get 10 different answers. CALF News readers will no doubt mention the agricultural shows first. Whether junior or open class, their func- tion is to bring livestock people together; the contact with friends and acquaintances is priceless to our learning process. The same is true for crop, horticulture and textile exhibitors, and even those making a day trip strictly for entertain- ment. They all contribute greatly to the well-being of the fairs by increasing cash flow to the coffers. The Nebraska State Fair Board has gone a step further and emphasized the importance of agriculture to school chil- dren statewide. To their credit, the board strives to keep agriculture first among their priorities. A Fair in Doldrums Back when the Nebraska State Fair was held in Lincoln, Fair Manager Joe McDermott noticed a pronounced lull in attendance during the weekday run. To remedy the mid-fair doldrums, he enlisted the help of Platte County Extension 4-H Aid Jim Mueller, who had a track record of putting together engaging and interesting programs for school children in Columbus, drawing urban kids’ interest and teachers’ trust. And so it began about 20 years ago, with three exhibits. Hollman Angus of Martel brought an Angus heifer, Alan Krivolavek of Dorchester hauled in a Duroc boar, and Mueller packed in a couple sheep. They were put on display just to look at. Mueller also brought along a sheep stand and clippers, and proceeded to give shearing demonstra- tions to those who wanted to watch. More Stuff Each year, the project grew in scope and popularity. The fair’s move to Grand Island provided more space and greater convenience to the classes, who come Nebraska's Largest Classroom The Nebraska Extension Husker Mobile Beef Lab crew manning the Nebraska State Fair Classroom includes Doug Anderson, Sherman County Extension 4-H educator; Nathan Haman, head of the eastern Mobile Beef Lab; Steve Niemeyer, Extension Beef Systems educator; and Brent Plugge, Extension Beef Systems educator. Grade school children line up to get a hands-on lesson in ruminant anatomy at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. Note the AI sleeves. Students crowd around the shearing stand at the sheep station. Each student gets to take home some wool and see their teachers shear a lamb. Needless to say, it is a wildly popular stop.