The University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) was busy at the Minnesota State Fair.

Each fair season, more than 100 veterinary volunteers—including CVM faculty, staff, and alumni—perform and moderate nearly 50 spay or neuter surgeries at the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s Surgery Suite. Among the operations that took place this year, staff spayed cats that would soon be adopted. Jody Lulich and CVM student Heather Kim were moderators, explaining how the procedures were conducted.

Fairgoers saw live birds of prey up close thanks to shows featuring educational ambassador birds from The Raptor Center on the Department of Natural Resources' outdoor Garden Stage and at the Minnesota Star Tribune stage. Staff and volunteers educated crowds at both locations about conservation and why raptors are so important.

The Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach (MNPRO) connected with more than 13,200 curious fairgoers about the biology and ecology of chronic wasting disease (CWD), as well as how MNPRO's research innovations are benefiting both animal and human health.

The Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center attended the fair with UMN’s Masonic Cancer Center to talk about cancer clinical trials that help both people and animals, and to educate Minnesotans on canine and feline cancer.

The Animal Cancer Care Research Program (ACCRP) team had the privilege of being the first stop on the Goldy vs Cancer exhibit. About 18 people from the clinical and research arms of the ACCRP met with hundreds of people from the community—some from states as far away as Louisiana, Maine, California, Washington, and Texas. They also met with families whose animal companions received care at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC). Visitors learned a little bit about cancer and competed in games to win coveted ACCRP gear and other prizes.

Volunteers from Companion Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (CAVSNET) were at the fair on Aug. 28 in collaboration with the Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative (MOHASC). The initiative—which includes CVM, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture—educates fairgoers on responsible antibiotic use. Experts from CVM discussed antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance across One Health, and how Minnesotans can safely dispose of unused medication.

The CHD Miracle of Birth Center is one of the most popular free exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair. The exhibit—a fair favorite for 25 years—is staffed by volunteers from CVM, the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, and FFA. The people who keep the Miracle of Birth Center running start their day before the sun rises and don’t stop until hours after sunset. On any given day of the 12-day fair, there are sheep lambing, cows calving, swine farrowing, and eggs hatching. Among the thousands of visitors this year were Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham, and University of Minnesota Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Ritter. CVM students shared information with the VIP visitors.