By MARK BUTZOW

Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Part of the fun of visiting the state fair is wandering through the livestock barns to see farm animals up close, but the crowds and noise can sometimes be off-putting.

Enter Animal Town, now in its second year at the Indiana State Fair.

“The goal is to educate fairgoers about animal husbandry,” said Sharon Smith, communications director for the state fair. “Sometimes the barns get very congested, and there isn’t always a chance to get answers if someone has questions. All animals on display here are breeds that are shown and judged.”

In one roomy area, Animal Town brings together most of the livestock breeds usually separated in the swine barn, the poultry building, and other places. The outdoor display includes a horse, dairy heifer, beef cow, sheep, goats, piglets, a llama, rabbits, and a laying hen.

In addition, one of the breeds is highlighted every couple hours with a talk led by commodity groups representing cattle, dairy, and other production. There is a straw-covered stage and seating for 40-50 guests available for those talks. Look for “Let’s Talk Livestock” on the state fair schedule at 1, 3, 5, and 7 p.m. daily.

For visits between those talks, there are large, attractive signboards by each animal enclosure that provide information about the breed, something not usually available in the livestock barns.

“There’s a lot of education potential, meant to be easy, user-friendly, and interactive,” said Stephanie DeCamp, state fair director of education. “One of the core missions of the Indiana State Fair is ag education, and this puts it front and center on Main Street.”

Animal Town is across Main Street from the Swine Barn, just east of the grandstand.

Fairgoers eager to interact and learn more can hit the bonanza at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. daily, when $10 gets them about 30 minutes of behind-the-barricades access to all of the animals, with professional guides to share knowledge about each breed.

“We added ‘Party with the Animals’ this year,” Smith said. “It’s a fun and unique experience. The other day, a 2-year-old brave little girl walked the llama.”

It has been averaging 6-10 people each time, DeCamp said, which gives participants ample opportunity to love on the animals, give them water, walk them, and, during the evening event only, feed them.