Celebrate milestone years with MDC at Missouri State Fair

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo -- It will be a year of anniversaries at the 2012 Missouri State Fair. As the Missouri State Fair commemorates 110 years of celebrating the state’s outdoors and rural lifestyles, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will be celebrating its own 75-year anniversary of serving nature and you. The Missouri State Fair, with the theme of “Celebrate Then & WOW,” will run from Aug. 9-19 in Sedalia.

MDC’s Conservation Pavilion, located at the south end of the fairgrounds, will again feature live animal displays and demonstrations as well as special exhibits on topics including black bears, native-plant landscaping and wildlife restoration. The always-popular fish aquaria will again provide a fun and refreshing break, while a display of live amphibians and reptiles will excite fairgoers of all ages.

MDC’s air-conditioned Conservation Kids’ Discovery Room, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, will provide children’s programs and hands-on exhibits designed for family fun and learning about Missouri’s forests, fish and wildlife.

Live demonstrations offered at the Conservation Pavilion this year will include:

• The Bald Eagle’s Return, Aug. 9 and 16, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.: Presentations from Springfield’s Dickerson Park Zoo, a partner in bald eagle restoration, will feature Phoenix, an adult bald eagle.
• Fish Cooking and Cleaning, Aug. 10-11, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Fisheries biologists will demonstrate how to clean and fillet Asian carp, and attendees will be able to sample fried fish.
• Calling All Wildlife, Aug. 12, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Outdoor Education Supervisor Jake Hindman, an expert wildlife caller, will demonstrate how to mimic the calls of a variety of Missouri animals.
• Know Your Trees, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Urban Forester Chuck Conner will help homeowners identify Missouri trees and give tips for their care.
• Living with Wildlife, Aug. 14, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Wildlife Damage Supervisor Rex Martensen will cover the basics of how to live with wildlife around your home or yard, including how to deal with conflicts.
• Feral Hogs, Aug. 15, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC staff will provide updates on the feral hog population in the state and what Missourians can do to help.
• Insects and Disease in Trees, Aug. 17, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Forestry experts will share information on the season’s insect and disease threats to trees, including thousand canker disease and emerald ash borer updates.
• Turtles of Missouri, Aug. 18, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Herpetologist Jeff Briggler will give a lively and popular talk about the state’s turtles, including live animals.
• CWD and Deer Management, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners will cover current deer management in Missouri, along with updates on Chronic Wasting Disease.

MDC conservation agents, biologists and other experts will be on hand at the Conservation Pavilion to answer questions from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

For more information on MDC or Missouri’s fish, forests and wildlife, visit mdc.mo.gov.