Wallace's Farmer, IA
08-13-07
ISU Celebrating 150th Birthday at State Fair
Compiled By Staff
Don't miss Iowa State University's exhibit at the Iowa State Fair this year. ISU is
celebrating its 150th anniversary. The university's exhibit at the fair in Des
Moines is marking that anniversary by looking at the people and history of the
university, as well as its future. The 2007 fair is themed "Sounds Like Fun!" and
runs for 11 days from Aug. 9 through 19 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Every year ISU has an exhibit at the fair where visitors can get temporary ISU
tattoos, football schedule posters, admissions applications and information about
the university. And this year's display also features a historical look at the
institution's 150 years of serving Iowans.
"The exhibit focuses on the university's sesquicentennial and our 150-year
history," says Carole Custer, ISU's marketing director. "It focuses on the
achievements and major milestones of the university."
Large mural is a trip through ISU history
Visitors to the exhibit can see a 21-foot color timeline that will illustrate
"Celebrating 150 Years of Adventurous Minds." The two-sided display is part of
the ISU exhibit in the northeast corner of the Varied Industries Building, open
from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the fair.
"We have artifacts loaned from various departments on campus that have a
significant place in our history," says Custer. "These are historical items that
many people don't get a chance to see."
Eight displays showcase items that range from the scientific to the odd. One
display features Cyclone head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson's
accomplishments, including his Olympic gold medal. Another spotlights the
original memory drum of John Atanasoff's ABC computer that was on display at
the Smithsonian Institute.
Biofuels, renewables are Iowa's future
The past is not the only part of Iowa State's fair exhibit. The future is highlighted
in a 10-foot display, "The 150-Year Adventure Continues." "We spotlight some of
the research the university is undertaking that has major significance in
addressing some of the world's greatest challenges," says Custer. This glimpse
of ISU's research includes work in biofuels and renewables, bioterrorism,
alternative uses for crops and cancer treatments.
Daily drawings are held for prizes that include sesquicentennial T-shirts, Cyclone
football tickets, and Iowa State Center performances. ISU's mascot, Cy, will
make appearances Aug. 10 (10 a.m.) and Aug. 17 (2 p.m.). The sesquicentennial
commemorative art mural, "What We Love About Iowa State University," created
by Sticks Inc. also is on display.
"Iowa State has been serving this state for 150 years and the citizens of Iowa can
be proud of what this university has contributed," says Custer. "This is our way of
sharing with the public some of our historic accomplishments and what the future
impact of the university will be."
The Iowa State University Book Store will host a book signing by author Thomas
Leslie, associate professor of architecture, at the fair booth from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18. His book, "Iowa State Fair: Country Comes to Town,"
celebrates the past, present and future of the fair.
The Iowa State Fair is also helping ISU celebrate its 150th birthday by organizing
a pair of quilting contests with the sesquicentennial theme. Both contests were
open to Iowa residents, as well as out-of-state ISU graduates. Entries in the quilt
block contest will be assembled into a quilt that will be auctioned at the end of the
fair. This quilt is displayed on the south side of the Varied Industries Building,
along with entries in a special category: bed-sized/wall quilt using the ISU
sesquicentennial theme.
Visit ISU Extension and 4-H exhibit
ISU Extension's exhibit is in the air-conditioned 4-H Exhibits Building and focuses
on its programs and history. The building also is home to a variety of 4-H
department displays and thousands of 4-H exhibits. Elaine Edwards, Extension
communications manager, says a selection of historical photos are on display
as part of a caption contest. Visitors can submit balloon captions for the photos.
Visit new Animal Learning Center
ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine is partnering with the Iowa State Fair and
the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association on a birthing center project in the justopened Animal Learning Center located near the "Little Hands on the Farm"
exhibit on the north end of the fairgrounds. The air-conditioned building
showcases the livestock birthing process with cattle, swine, sheep, chicken and
ducks bred to have offspring during the fair. A number of presentations will take
place throughout the fair in the stage area of the building.
The College of Veterinary Medicine is providing the cattle for the display, and
veterinary students and at least one faculty member will be on hand to help with
the program. "We anticipate that we'll have 4,000 people go by," says Jim West,
director of ISU's Food Supply Veterinary Services. "The chance to have that
number of people see agriculture at its best and veterinary medicine at its best;
we think it's cool."