FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. – (Aug. 27, 2015) – When you head to the State Fair this year, it doesn’t have to be all deep-fried foods and carnival rides. This year, a new Department of Natural Resources forestry exhibit has opened, providing an educational tour of forests. “New this year at the State Fair is the Minnesota DNR’s forestry display. We have designed an exhibit to welcome people into a forest. We have a variety of trees that display different information about the importance of trees to our environment, our economy, and our cultural heritage as Minnesotans,” said DNR forestry division outreach supervisor Amy Kerber.
Some highlights of this year’s display include interactive learning tools for all ages. “We put in elements that children could reach at their level and pull out or lift flaps. We have things at more an adult height that will be designed for the appropriate age learner. We have a seek and find aspect to the forest product trees so they have to match clues to different forest products,” said Kerber.
The unique design mimics a walk through the woods among five 15-foot-tall trees. “In the exhibit we pay extra attention to use as many Minnesota products as possible. The trees behind me are all made from Maple from Minnesota trees. We use Maple because it’s somewhat an iconic tree species in Minnesota, but also the floor in the State Fair building is made out of Maple and part of that was to design it to look like the trees were coming right up from under the floor,” said Kerber.
So, while enjoying the many attractions of the State Fair this year, join other Minnesotans as they wander through the display and gain a new appreciation for the variety of natural, cultural, and economic advancements our forests provide.
