Midwest Dairy’s involvement in this year’s Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls has been taken up a notch with the opening of the Pipestone Discovery Barn. The new feature will have its grand opening on Friday, August 1, at 5 p.m., offering many new experiences for those attending the fair, including a milking parlor with daily milking demonstrations and actual live cows expecting to give birth.
“The Sioux Empire Fair will host 300,000 visitors, many of whom are generations removed from the farm. This will be a great opportunity to showcase dairy to those people, helping them understand farm practices,” says Roger Scheibe, Midwest Dairy’s senior industry relations manager.
Midwest Dairy has also moved its Sioux Empire Fair dairy concession into the Discovery Barn. The Midwest Dairy Bar offers a variety of flavored milk shakes. New information and graphics will enhance the educational experience the new barn offers to showcase modern dairy farm production methods.
Midwest Dairy looks forward to Wednesday, August 6, which is Dairy Fest day in the new building. The South Dakota Dairy Princess, Katelyn Grehl, and other dairy farmers will be in the barn providing samples of Babybel and Valley Queen cheeses, manufactured by Bel Brands in Brookings and Valley Queen in Milbank. Fair-goers can also make their own cheese. Farmers will visit with fair attendees about the progress dairy farmers are making to remain environmentally responsible and sustainable.
On Sunday, August 3, the barn will host Build-a-Pizza Day. Midwest Dairy is bringing in Pizza Ranch’s corporate chef from 3-5 p.m. to share the various ingredients that go into making pizza, including dairy.
Other attractions and events in the new Pipestone Discovery Barn include:
- Parlor and Bulk Tank viewing area;
- Gestation/Farrowing Pen;
- Egg Laying Incubator station;
- Sioux Steel grain bin with a corn and soybean field mural; and
- Thank a Farmer Magic Shows during the first four days of the Fair.
The Pipestone Discovery Barn and the Midwest Dairy Bar will be open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. each day during the fair. The Sioux Empire Fair opens at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 1, and closes on Sunday, August 10, at 6:30 p.m.
