UW-Madison and UW-Extension featured at Dodge County Fair Aug. 16

A variety of educational displays and special entertainment will be part of the UW–Madison and UW-Extension Day at the Dodge County Fair Thursday, Aug. 16.

Fairgoers will be able to interact with UW–Madison faculty and staff and UW-Extension specialists at hands-on educational displays in and around the youth building from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fairgrounds are east of Beaver Dam on Highway 33.

“We are coming to the Dodge County Fair to show the broad range of ways we do outreach around the state,” says Tricia Dickinson, marketing director for UW–Madison, which is partnering to present the event with UW-Extension. “As fun, cool and exciting as these activities are, we’re glad to have the opportunity to share the ways in which the university helps the state.”

These research connections — offered for 125 years through the Dodge County Fair and 100 years through Cooperative Extension — will be featured through educational displays.

Educational programs for communities, businesses, farmers, families and youth are offered through the Dodge County UW-Extension office. These programs are supported by UW–Madison research, connecting people with university resources.

Several scientific exploration stations offer a fun, hands-on way to see UW–Madison research in action. “Integrated specialists” — academic experts adept at sharing real-world knowledge — from departments such as soil science, plant pathology and agronomy will also be on hand to answer questions and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the UW Cooperative Extension.

The area outside of the youth building also will feature UW–Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health “Survey of the Health of Wisconsin” (SHOW) van. The van is a rolling educational lab teaching people about how medical experts capture information on the health of Wisconsin residents and how those results identify needs and target resources where they are most needed.

One of the School of Engineering’s hybrid sport utility vehicles will also be on display outside of the youth building. The vehicles are designed and constructed by engineering students.