By SUSAN MYKRANTZ

Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — From the time the first visitor walks in the gates until the last animal leaves the fairgrounds, the 2019 Ohio State Fair is packed with food, fun, and some of the best livestock shows in the country. The fair runs from July 24-August 4.

The daily schedule is overflowing with livestock shows ranging from rabbits and poultry to hogs, sheep, beef, and dairy, as well as draft and pleasure horse classes. New to the schedule this year is the Dean’s Charity Steer Show on July 30, beginning at 2 p.m. in the Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center.

Hosted by Cathann A. Kress, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of The Ohio State University ag college, the event will pair local celebrities with junior fair steer exhibitors with the goal of raising money for the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio.

Since the beginning of Kress’ tenure at OSU, she has been a strong supporter of Ohio Agriculture and youth. She said the goal of the show is to celebrate agriculture and youth, as well as give back to the community. The McDonald House provides lodging for families whose children are hospitalized due to illness or injuries.

Another fun and popular attraction at the fair is the Land and Living Exhibit located in the Nationwide Donahey Land & Living Building, up off the midway by the giant slide. Pat Petzel, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s (OFBF) vice president of communications, said the exhibit has been redesigned to provide visitors with interactive, hands-on educational activities related to agriculture.

Petzel said the exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to learn about how animals are cared for on the farm, as well as how science and technology are helping farmers produce safe food while caring for environmental resources. Land and Living activities include planting crops in a tractor simulator, using drones in agriculture, shopping in an interactive grocery store, and opportunities to ask a farmer about what they do.

Land and Living is made possible through the support of OFBF, Nationwide, OSU, Ohio Corn & Wheat, Ohio Soybean Council, American Dairy Assoc. Mideast (ADAM), and Ohio Poultry Assoc. Featured exhibitors will include Ohio Pork Council, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Assoc., Ohio 4-H, Ohio Christmas Tree Assoc., USDA, Ohio State Grange, and Central State University.

A popular exhibit at the fair is the butter cow and calf in the Dairy Products building. Sponsored by ADAM, the exhibit includes an accompanying sculpture that pays tribute to an important event in history or a famous person.

The theme of the exhibit is a closely guarded secret until it is unveiled during the opening of the fair. The exhibit uses as much as 2,000 pounds of butter to create the sculpture and takes close to 500 hours to complete. (After the fair, the butter is recycled into other products such as animal feeds and cosmetics.)

When it comes to food, one of the more notable spots on the fairgrounds is the Taste of Ohio Café featuring food stands sponsored by state commodity groups, ranging from chicken noodles to lamb, pork, beef, and ice cream. Visitors will also have the chance to sample some of Ohio’s unique craft beers and wines and meet those who produce them.

Visitors will also have opportunity to see the Budweiser Clydesdales, which will be housed on the fairgrounds during the 11-day event.

 One of the highlights of the fair is the Governor’s Cup Six-Horse Hitch Class, which will take place on August 1 in the Taft Coliseum. This draws upwards of 30 teams and features some of the finest draft horses from across the United States and Canada.

The Sale of Champions on August 4 is the culmination of the junior fair market livestock show as the champions and reserve champions are auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting the junior fair livestock exhibitors and its scholarship program.

The admission gates are open from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are $10 for ages 13-59, $8 for seniors 60 and over and for children 6-12, and children 5 and under are free. Advance sale tickets are $6 and may be purchased at your participating AAA locations, Kroger, or online at www.ticketmaster.com/ohiostatefair