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"Land and Living: Agriculture --Your Link to Life!" sponsored by Nationwide at the Ohio State Fair keeps growing in the size and scope of activities available at no cost to fairgoers.

Last year, an estimated 300,000 visitors took advantage of the interactive displays and activities. This year’s exhibit features favorites such as the corn climbing wall and the flower potting area and some new items and updates:

• The dairy exhibit will include a life-size fiberglass cow for children to "milk." The cow is on loan from the popular COSI on Wheels traveling exhibit "Agriculture Adventures."

• A coloring station will be added to the Healthy Living pavilion. After the children finish coloring, their artwork will be on display at the pavilion. The coloring pages are related to Ohio commodities. Ohio’s livestock commodity organizations are sponsoring this activity.

• The living stream will use all native plants to depict the natural habitat.

• County Farm Bureau painted piggy banks will be on display. The "Hog Wild" project invited counties to paint piggy banks to represent food and agriculture in their respective counties. In honor of the Our Ohio brand launch and upcoming television show, the Our Ohio logo must appear on each pig.

If you have been to the exhibit, you know how popular the live animals are. The chicks and puppies are back, and this year bunnies are being added.

The Nationwide exhibit this year will focus on boating and other recreational activities as well as ATV and home safety. A virtual fishing station will draw visitors to the exhibit.

The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation will have a display and tickets for a pickup truck raffle.

"Even those simply looking for water fountains will have an opportunity to learn," said Mike Pullins, who is coordinating the display for Ohio Farm Bureau. "We have talking points right above the water fountain that tell consumers the protection measures farmers take when farming near water."

Visit the exhibit Aug. 3 to 14 at the Ohio Expo Center and Fairgrounds in Columbus. Farm Bureau day at the fair is Aug. 12. State fair staff at the admission gates will be wearing Farm Bureau shirts and announcements will be made throughout the day inviting fairgoers to stop by the exhibit.

Ag Hall of Fame honorees announced
Clarence Cunningham, Neal Schirm, Robert Teater and John Weaver will be inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame during a breakfast Aug. 12. The Ohio Agricultural Council will honor these men for their lifetime of dedication, service and contributions to agriculture.

Caption: Come to the "Land and Living: Agriculture--Your Link to Life!" exhibit at this year’s Ohio State Fair, Aug. 3 to 14. Friday, Aug. 12 is Farm Bureau day at the fair.