Fun and learning to converge at Ingham County Fair

MASON – There will be the old favorites — carnival rides, livestock events and tasty midway snacks — but visitors to the Ingham County Fair next week just might learn a few things.

After all, blending education and fun has been a mission at the fair for the past few years, according to Sandra Dargatz, its executive director.

“There are going to be many opportunities throughout the week of fair for families to come together and spend quality time learning and growing,” she said Wednesday.

The 161st edition of the event runs Monday through Saturday at the Ingham County Fairgrounds in Mason, located on the south side of Ash Street just east of Rayner Park.

There will be plenty of things to read when the kids get home, Dargatz said. Capital Area District Libraries will have a bookmobile at the fair, she said, and PNC Bank is partnering with with the fair to give away more than 500 books. That effort is in its second year.

“We’re doing that to make sure kids don’t fall back during the summer,” Dargatz said.

Also in its second year is a partnership with the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union providing learning fun and other entertainment. A veterinary collaboration at MSU called Science, Animals, Medicine & You — or SAMY — will hold educational sessions on pet care.

A staple of the fair is the 4-H livestock sale. Dargatz said successful bidders can have their animals taken away for processing — city people don’t have to take cows home, Dargatz said — and they can keep the meat for themselves or donate it to the Lansing Food Bank.

“We can ultimately help feed our own community and help reach some of some those families feeling a little more pain financially,” she said.

New events include a monster truck “shootout” on Wednesday, and on Saturday the fair will bring back an event not seen in years: a rodeo. The Lost Nations Rodeo Co. of Hudson will stage it.

The fair also will have days with special themes:

•Monday is Ingham County Farm Bureau Day. Farm Bureau members receive discounted admission.

•Tuesday is Meijer Kids Day. In My Adventure Theater, children in the audience can dress up and be part of the play. Storylines carry positive messages such as friendship and urge kids not to be bullies.

•Wednesday is Military and Seniors Day: It will include two new activities: dueling pianos and an antique photo contest.

•Thursday is Ladies Day. There’s free admission for ladies until noon and there will be a Mad Hatter Tea Party sponsored by Lansing-based Painting with a Twist.

•Thursday also is Union Family Fair Day. Greater Lansing Labor Council members receive discounted admission.

Contact Curt Smith at (517) 377-1226 or csmith@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @CurtSmithLSJ.

On the Web

•Ingham County Fair:http://fb.ingham.org/

•A fair brochure:http://fb.ingham.org/Portals/FB/Fair/Sandy/dailybrochure.pdf