College to Have Expanded Role in LA County Fair

The Huntley College of Agriculture will have an expanded role when the LA County Fair returns in May after a two-year hiatus.

For the first time, the college will have exhibits in the fair’s Farm at Fairplex area featuring each of its five academic departments. It also will have booths on “Bugs and Bees” – featuring the apiary program – urban and community agriculture, and the outreach programs at AGRIscapes’s Discovery Farm.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the programs in the college and at Cal Poly Pomona,” said Craig Walters, the AGRIscapes outreach director who is overseeing the college’s participation. “We’ll be able to interact with many prospective future students.”

In addition, the “Cal Poly Pomona” name will be on signage throughout the exhibit area, reflecting the expanded partnership with the fair, he said.

The college is expected to employ more than 30 students to work with the animals and other booths during the fair.

Traditionally, the college has provided the petting zoo animals for the fair, as well as pregnant livestock that are expected to deliver during the fair and baby animals for bottle-feeding demonstrations. Those activities also will return this year.

Students and alumni are encouraged to visit the college exhibits at the fair, show their school spirit by wearing green and gold, and stop by the college booth.

The fair is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. It’s the first time that the event has been held since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tickets are now on sale for the fair, which will be held from May 5-30. Organizers moved the event from its traditional September dates into May because of the cooler springtime weather.

Buy fair tickets online at https://www.lacountyfair.com/.