October 2024 - Journal F e - Flipbook - Page 20
A DECADE OF DISCOVERY
Celebrating Ag Education at the Sioux Empire Fair
Celebrating Ag Education at the Sioux Empire Fair
This year, PIPESTONE is celebrating a major
milestone with the 10th anniversary of the Discovery
Barn at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, SD. While
our agriculture education exhibits began with a single
local fair, the Sioux Falls Discovery Barn has grown
to be the cornerstone of our agricultural education
efforts. Beyond this exhibit, PIPESTONE has expanded
its reach with additional outreach exhibits at fairs and
classrooms across South Dakota, Minnesota, and
Iowa, furthering our commitment to connect with
communities.
The Start of the Discovery Barn
The idea for the Discovery Barn concept was born
out of a simple yet profound goal—to build public trust
in farmers. Sylvia Wolters, Public Relations Coordinator
and one of the program’s key visionaries, explains,
“PIPESTONE was asked to contribute to a different
public ag experience destination near a very large city.
Instead of writing a check, we chose a route where
we designed the message and built relationships. We
chose to stay local, locate a property, and build our
own ag experience
to showcase ALL of
modern agriculture,
featuring farmers of
the Midwest.”
By 2014, the
Discovery Barn at
the Sioux Empire
Fair was launched,
quickly becoming a
highlight for families
and school groups
Sylvia Wolters
alike. Over the
years, the exhibit
grew, incorporating
live farrowing sows, weaned piglets,
interactive displays, and educational material that
captivated both children and adults. The success at
the Sioux Empire Fair paved the way for additional
agriculture education exhibits.
Adapting and Engaging
One of the keys to longevity is our constant focus on
staying relevant and educational. As farming practices
have evolved over the past decade, so does our
exhibits.
Opening Day of the PIPESTONE Discovery Barn at the Sioux
Empire Fair in 2014.
20 | PIPESTONE JOURNAL
“This year, we revamped the wall signage at the
Sioux Falls Discovery Barn,” says Taylor Spronk,
Public Relations Manager and Research Veterinarian
for PIPESTONE. “The old wall signs were 10 years
old and needed a refresh. For example, the average
number of piglets born per litter is no longer 1014; it’s much higher than that, and that’s growth we
want to highlight. We updated those displays and
are expanding those updates to all our ag education
exhibits.”
