Celebrate UK Sesquicentennial at Ky. State Fair

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 17, 2015) — The Commonwealth will come together to celebrate the storied history of the University of Kentucky at this month's Kentucky State Fair. At University of Kentucky Day, on Saturday, Aug. 22, Big Blue Nation has the opportunity to not only don their blue and white while enjoying all the fair has to offer, but also a chance to commemorate UK’s 150th anniversary at a discounted price and pick up mementos of the historic occasion.

Regular ticket prices for the fair are $10 for general admission, $6 for children (ages 6-12), $6 for seniors (ages 55 and above) and free for infants and toddlers. Individuals purchasing UK Day tickets in advance, prior to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, will receive a $2 discount on their tickets online at Ticketmaster.com. Parking is $8 per vehicle per entry, however, individuals planning to attend can purchase parking at a discounted rate of $5 per vehicle per entry if purchased by Tuesday, Aug. 18, on Ticketmaster. Fees will be added to online Ticketmaster transactions upon purchase. Discounted tickets may also be purchased at Kroger stores.

As part of the UK Day celebration, special giveaways (Kentucky pennants) will available at the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (UKAg) booth located in the West Hall, the UK Energy booth in the South Wing, and the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension display also in the South Wing, until supplies last. In addition, the Wildcat, UK's mascot, will be at the UKAg booth to take pictures with fans.

UKAg has a long history of involvement in the Kentucky State Fair. Each year they have an exhibit at the fair highlighting programs in the college and the UK Cooperative Extension Service. The 2015 championship quarter-scale tractor will be on display inside the booth. UKAg's team won this year’s American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition earlier this summer, their third victory in four years.

In addition to participating in UK Day on Aug. 22, the booth will host several daily activities through the fair's run, including:

· a basket making demonstration by the Scott County Extension Homemakers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20;

· UK Entomology Insect Zoo from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 21;

· the Kentucky Wildbots of Knox County 4-H Robotics from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23;

· Clark County 4-H Robotics from 10 a.m. to noon Monday. Aug. 24;

· Master Volunteers in Clothing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25;

· Reptiles and Amphibians of Kentucky from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 26;

· Jefferson County Master Gardeners from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 27 and 28; and

· FEW (Future Engineers of Westport) 4-H Robotics from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29.

A long standing tradition at the fair is 4-H’s Cloverville, in the West Wing of the expo center. It hosts some 6,000 4-H member exhibits from across the state where 4-H’ers display their skills and compete for ribbons and awards. Special events also take place inside the Cloverville area throughout the fair. Individual 4-H members, with leadership from specialists and agents with the UK Cooperative Extension Service, participate in youth livestock events in Broadbent Arena and care for animals on exhibit in the West Wing. There is also a Dog Show in a separate area.

In the South Wing, the UKAg's Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, has an energy booth where visitors can learn about energy saving measures for their homes.

Also in the South Wing, another UKAg display highlights programs in Family and Consumer Sciences Extension. Recipe cards, nutrition activity books for children and information about contacting a local county family and consumer sciences extension agent will be available there.  There is also information available about the academic programs in the college's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

Since its founding in 1865, UK has been dedicated to improving people's lives through excellence in education, research and creative work, service, and health care as Kentucky's flagship institution and one of the nation's top land grant universities.

Since the spring semester, UK has been celebrating its 150th anniversary with several events, presentations and creative works that highlight the rich and esteemed history of the university. To get more information on the sesquicentennial, visit the website www.uky.edu/uk150. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu