While Iowa State Fair-goers ingest greasy foods, gardeners show overgrown vegetables and children are strapped into rickety Midway rides, ISU students use their internships to teach Iowans the importance of agriculture. 

Josie McQuillen, senior in agricultural and life sciences, grew up on a farm in Cascade, Iowa, and she said her education at Iowa State and internship with the Iowa Pork Producers has helped her bridge the gap between agricultural producers and consumers. 

During the fair, McQuillen represented the Iowa Pork Producers in the Agriculture Building and also at the Little Hands on the Farm and Animal Learning Center interactive displays, where she taught children about the swine industry.

In the Animal Learning Center, six sows were shuffled in during the first few days of the fair where they gave birth, known as farrowing. Visitors were then able to see a pig farrowing and ask the farmers questions on the farrowing process.

McQuillen said the fair provides an opportunity for Iowans to remember their agricultural roots and learn about modern-day farming from those in the industry.

“We want to share our story,” McQuillen said of the Iowa Pork Producers. “There are people out there who have a lot of questions if they’ve never even seen a pig before. Here, they can see it hands-on and ask questions from our Iowa Pork Producers. It helps them realize more that we’re not hiding anything.”

McQuillen, who grew up on a farrowing farm and showed pigs in 4-H and Future Farmers of America during high school, said she wants to dismiss the perception that today’s farmers work in industrial plants and don’t care about their animals’ well-being. Though farms have become larger and introduced more technology, it’s still a family business, McQuillen said.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture reported that 97 percent of U.S. farms were family owned. 

Rebecca Haugland, senior in agricultural and life sciences education, interned with the state 4-H office and worked as a livestock specialist program assistant. Haugland coordinated the staff and volunteers at different livestock shows at the fair. 

Haugland did not grow up on a farm but said her previous nine years of 4-H involvement helped her learn how the agriculture industry is important in Iowa, but the industry is still expanding. Working with all of the 4-H staffers and volunteers has solidified that believe, she said. 

“Even though we have all the stuff at the state fair — the food on the stick — it still has that presence of agriculture. Farmers are still the ones that feed all of us and show everyone in Iowa that production agriculture is still here, and it’s a growing point for us,” Haugland said.

She said her class and club experiences at Iowa State also prepared her to work in the industry and made her understand the influence Iowa State has in the agriculture industry.

“If you’re at the fair, look around and see how many times you see [ISU] T-shirts. That connection between [Iowa State] Extension and Iowa State in the showrooms, the Varied Industries Building and 4-H is huge,” Haugland said.