Hutchinson, Kan. – Are you ready to put some knowledge in your noggin? Check out all of the educational experiences at this year’s Fair. The Kansas State Fair runs Sept. 8-17 in Hutchinson.
Pollinator Garden
Bees, butterflies and birds! Oh my! Pollinators are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. Come learn what our winged friends do to sustain our ecosystem. Enjoy a stroll through the new Pollinator Garden and admire nature’s beauty. This new exhibit is located near Gate 5 (north side of the fairgrounds).
Agriculture Passport
Get ready for an agriculture adventure. Tour the Birthing Center, Milking Parlor, Golden Plains Llama Exhibit, Agriland and the Kansas Honey booth to learn more about Kansas agriculture. Each stop involves trivia questions, presentations and plenty of opportunities to learn along the way.
Children can pick up their free passports at the Education Information Center in the Oz Gallery Breezeway or print online at bit.ly/KSFAgPassport. Completed passports can be redeemed for a prize at the same location.
Agriland
Agriland offers a hands-on interactive experience transporting children to a farm where they can milk a cow or drive a combine. This fun-packed exhibit is family favorite and provides children exposure to Kansas crops, livestock and agricultural products used in everyday life. Agriland is located in the Pride of Kansas building and is open daily from9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Math On-A-Stick
You can count on the Kansas State Fair to offer everything on a stick. Even math! Pick up your Math On-A-Stick gameboard at the Education Information Center in the Oz Gallery Breezeway or print online at bit.ly/MathStick.
Now you’re ready to make math interactive. Step out and explore the Fairgrounds. On one side of the gameboard, you’ll locate and identify different angles. Is that slice of pizza an acute angle? Where do you see a right angle? Now, flip your stick and find simple machines. What fair ride represents a wheel-and-axle system? Where do you see a pulley system? Log locations on the Math-On-A-Stick gameboard and head back to the Education Information Center to redeem your prize.
Marching Bands
The marching band program is one of the time-honored traditions of the Kansas State Fair. Middle and high-school bands across the state are encouraged to participate in the program, which provides a great chance to receive scores and comments from judges early in the season, before state competitions start. Last year 95 bands, with a total of 5,492 students, displayed their musical talents and teamwork at the fair.
Bands march and perform Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 11- 13. Please visit kansasstatefair.com to register your class.
Forensics Showcase
Pick up public-speaking skills and learn the art and science of evidence and argument at the at the Forensic Champion Showcase. Watch Kansas High School Forensics royalty show off their skills. This is not a tournament but a showcase of several event champions from the Spring 2017 Championship Competitions.
The first showcase will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Hansen Auditorium in the Encampment Building. Exhibitions continue at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
All schools are welcome to watch the various featured forensics events including speech and interpretation. For discounted gate tickets, register your class through the Kansas’ Largest Classroom program.
Spelling Bee
Are you R-E-A-D-Y for some F-U-N? Register for the 17th Annual Kansas State Fair Spelling Bee. This event will be divided into two age categories 3rd through 5th grades and 6th through 8th grades. The written exam will be at 9 a.m. on Monday, September 11 in the Encampment building.
If you thought that was the only fun to be had at this event, think again. While the written exams are being scored, there will be a Kansas State Fair trivia game in Hansen Auditorium. Sharpen your Kansas State Fair knowledge, because there will be prizes for those who know their fair share of Fair history. A word of the day and frequently misspelled words will be featured on the Fair’s website.
Be sure to check out more educational opportunities at kansasstatefaircom.
Kansas’ Largest Classroom is sponsored by Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.
ABOUT THE KANSAS STATE FAIR
Find your fun at the Kansas State Fair. From the opening bell to the final grandstand blockbuster, it’s a play day hay day. Take in the world-class Midway, blue-ribbon animals and family-friendly activities. It’s pure Americana – an event not to be missed. Party with your pals and hear the hottest performers at the Nex-Tech Wireless® Grandstand. Tour the many agricultural and educational displays. Win prizes. Brave heart-pounding carnival rides. Sample deep-fried treats and other culinary delights. Enormous vegetables, odd artifacts, homemade crafts and the infamous butter sculpture provide something for everyone. Get your fair on Sept. 8-17, 2017. The event is the largest in the state of Kansas with crowds numbering more than 350,000. The fairgrounds are in centrally located Hutchinson, Kansas. Mark your calendars now and plan to join Kansans from across the state – along with visitors from around the world. For more information, call 620.669.3600, toll-free at 800.362.FAIR or visit kansasstatefair.com.
