Michigan Department of Agriculture employees often reach out to communities in the state, bringing agriculture to the classroom through lesson plans, agricultural science experiments, and "hands-on" interaction with farm animals.

Folks working with the Upper Peninsula State Fair have taken the idea in a new direction with "Fair On Wheels"—a day during the fair when 4-H youth bring animals to nursing home residents who otherwise wouldn't be able to experience the fair.

The U.P. State Fair celebrated its 75th anniversary August 12-17, 2003; it's the sixth year for the Fair On Wheels.

Animals are borrowed from the Children's Barnyard at the fair, and youngsters involved in 4-H volunteer their time to take the animals to the nursing home residents. In 2002, 16 youths visited approximately 140 residents at two nursing homes—Bishop Noa Assisted Living Home and Christian Park Home. In addition, volunteers collected items from vendors at the fair to prepare goodie bags for the residents; and clowns and live music rounded out the whole fair experience.

Student reporters from the Youth Technology Building at the fair joined the group to videotape and take photographs.

The nursing homes look forward to the event each year and provide refreshments for the residents and volunteers. They post information about the event on their bulletin boards so family members are aware of the dates, and post photos afterward so residents can continue to enjoy the day long after it's over.

Fair On Wheels is run without any cost to the fair. In 2002, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan donated $1,000 for T-shirts for all volunteers, and Wade Shows donated stuffed animals for all the nursing home residents. In the past, volunteers loaded goats, ponies, calves, bunnies, puppies and chicks into cars, vans and pickup trucks. Last year, Upper Peninsula Power Company donated use of a truck to transport the animals to the nursing homes.

Both the youngsters and nursing home residents are enriched by this event. The children enjoy sharing their animals, and the residents appreciate the opportunity to experience the fair. Most of the interaction happens outside the nursing homes, but there are some residents who are unable to go outside, so the youngsters bring small animals inside and help residents hold and enjoy them.

For more information about the U.P. State Fair and the Fair On Wheels project, contact the U.P. State Fair office at (906) 786-4011.