Minnesota Ag Connection - Pollinators, Plant Pals, Photo Ops at MDA State Fair Exhibit

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Pollinators, Plant Pals, Photo Ops at MDA State Fair Exhibit
Minnesota Ag Connection - 08/21/2017

Fairgoers of all ages will connect agriculture to their daily lives with fast and fun, hands-on activities in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) 2017 State Fair exhibit. New this year are special activities, sponsored by Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC), in which fairgoers can make a living plant necklace, a pollinator feeder, and a livestock animal ear tag that they can take home.

Plant Pal Living Necklace: Fairgoers will place corn and soybean seeds in a small, wearable plastic bag with a moist cotton ball. After a few days the necklace will be alive with growing sprouts to observe! Pollinator Feeder: Fairgoers will use clear plant-pot saucers and yarn to create a feeder that can be hung from a tree and provide food and homemade nectar to a wide variety of pollinators.

Animal Ear Tag Necklace: Participants will investigate how livestock producers use color, numbers, letters and words on animal ear tags to assist with identification. They will create an ear tag with their own identifying information and can wear it as a necklace if desired.

These activities will take place in the North Hall of the Agriculture/Horticulture Building on the following dates/times:

- Aug. 24, 1-3 p.m. -- Livestock Animal Ear Tag

- Aug. 26, 1-3 p.m. -- Living Necklace

- Aug. 28, 1-3 p.m. -- Pollinator Feeder

- Aug. 31, 1-3 p.m. -- Livestock Animal Ear Tag

- Sept. 2, 1-3 p.m. -- Living Necklace

Additional activities in the MDA State Fair exhibit will include a free flower seed packet giveaway, information on the Minnesota Cottage Food Law for home canners and bakers, and farmer-members of the Minnesota Grown program will be on hand to answer questions about their food production and farm operations. A variety of fun photo op stations will be set up throughout the exhibit.

Fair visitors are also invited to participate in the Protect Minnesota Pollinators campaign through social media, using #MNpollinatorhero to inspire others to make their pollinator promise.

The MDA State Fair exhibit is located in the North Hall of the Agriculture/Horticulture Building at the corner of Underwood and Judson on the fairgrounds. The Minnesota State Fair is Aug. 24 through Labor Day. Exhibits are open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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