FAIR ADDS WALKING AG TOURS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN

Taking a cue from a program that was designed to educate city kids about farming and agriculture, the Southeast Missouri District Fair is trying something new this year: guided walking tours of the livestock area.

Glenn Birk, chairman of the livestock support committee of the SEMO District Fair, says the goal of the livestock tours is to give people not familiar with farming in general, and livestock production in particular, a better idea of where their hamburger, pork steak, round steak, and scrambled or poached egg comes from.

"It's an educational thing," said Birk. "We want give people who live in the city and have never been on a farm, or who have little or no knowledge of the food production chain, an opportunity to see where it all begins.

"We'll take the people around to the cattle, dairy, swine, sheep and poultry exhibits, and explain how each is produced, and give them a chance to ask questions of the tour guide or the exhibitor who is showing the animals. We'll also take them through the horse and mule areas to let them see these animals, as well."

Although Cape Girardeau is situated in an agricultural area, Birk said many people especially those who live in the city know very little about farming and livestock production. "But both play a very important part of their daily life," he said. "Without dairy cows, there would be no milk, ice cream, or cheese for the pizza. Without beef cattle, there would be no hamburgers, steaks, or pot roasts. Without chickens, there would be no fresh eggs or fried chicken for Sunday dinner.

"With the agricultural tours, we want to make a visit to the SEMO District Fair more meaningful and educational, and not just carnival rides or walking along the concession midway near the Arena Building."

Birk said the new program is similar to the Farm Bureau's Ag Spy program for school-age children that has been held at the fair for the past several years.

"Our walking tours of the livestock area is based on the same concept and goal as Ag Spy, but instead of children, we invite adults to bring their children along with them when they go on the tour," he added.

Birk said fair officials learned about agriculture livestock tours during the winter meeting of the Missouri Association of Fairs, Festivals and Conventions in Jefferson City.

"What we're trying to do is get back to the original purpose of state, county and district fairs; to bring the country and the city together in an exchange of information, products and ideas," Birk continued. "Over the years we seem to have lost some of that, and concentrated more on the entertainment aspects of the fair.

"By giving city people an opportunity to go on guided tours of the livestock exhibits, and meet and talk with the producers, they'll have a better idea of the role of the livestock producer," said Birk.