The Iowa State Fair is one of the biggest events of the year in the state and people come from all corners of Iowa to show off their talents and accomplishments. Iowa State will display its own achievements this week as well, with exhibits in the Varied Industries Building and the Animal Learning Center.

Iowa State will have a booth set up in which fairgoers can learn about the university’s research and history with biorenewable energy and fuels, and the College of Veterinary Medicine will be involved in the animal birthing center.

The university’s booth in the Varied Industries Building will be in the same location as it has been in the past, which is in the northeast corner of the building, said Carole Custer, director of university marketing and promotions for Iowa State.

This year, the ISU exhibit will feature a skit about the pioneering research into renewable fuels by three ISU researchers in the first half of the twentieth century. There will also be a recreation of a gas station from the 1930s, including a Model-T Ford car.

The exhibit was developed by Tad Whitten of Motorsports Management Inc. in Illinois, Custer said. 

Whitten developed the exhibit independently of Iowa State. He has already displayed it at various events around the country, and tailored it to the university for the fair, Custer said.

A race car developed by ISU students that runs on E-85 fuel will be on display as well. 

“We thought it would be a great way to highlight that even students are involved in renewable energy projects,” Custer said.

Custer said Iowa State’s development of themed exhibits sets it apart from many other booths in the Varied Industries Building.

Past themes have ranged from a showcase of student art to a celebration of the university’s sesquicentennial.

Renewable energy was chosen as this year’s theme because it is a topic currently of much interest to the public, Custer said.

She said that while student recruitment is one of the reasons for the booth, it is also set up to inform Iowa taxpayers what Iowa State, a land grant public university, is doing to help Iowans.

Iowa State has a long tradition of involvement at the State Fair, said Lori Chappell, director of marketing for the fair.

“We think that our partnership with Iowa State is terrific,” Chappell said, “They’ve been partners in every aspect.”

Researchers and experts from the university help out with exhibits and students from 4-H present livestock.

“There are few areas where Iowa State is not involved,” she said.

This year, the College of Veterinary Medicine has set up an animal birthing center in the Animal Learning Center building, according to Inside Iowa State Web site. The exhibit features animals bred to be born during the fair.

Chappell said veterinarians from the university will also perform surgeries on small animals at the fair, such as spaying and neutering pets.