Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

July 25, 2003

Another generation of success at ISU fair exhibit

by Debra Gibson
Brent Mathisen is a stand-up kind of guy, and Iowa State wants the state to know it.

That's why Mathisen, an Emmetsburg native, and 20 other spring '03 ISU graduates will be featured on life-size cutouts at the university's exhibit during the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 7-17. As in the past, the exhibit will be located in the Varied Industries Building.

Capitalizing on the popularity of last year's display, which featured prominent ISU alumni who are furthering Iowa's economic betterment, this year's group is a sampling of new graduates who have been hired by Iowa employers.

"Once again, we will focus on how Iowa State is helping Iowa and Iowans to become their best," said Carole Custer, director of university marketing. "We're reminding Iowans that, thanks to their tax dollars, their public investment, we are helping to better this state by providing our students with education and career preparation for good jobs in Iowa."

Mathisen, who received his bachelor's degree in finance in May, is an internal auditor for Wells Fargo Financial in West Des Moines. A list of the alumni featured in the exhibit is online at http://www.inside.iastate.edu/2003/0725/fair.shtml.

The university also will showcase the academic achievements of its student athletes. Custer said during the past school year, ISU student athletes received 119 academic awards from outside the university, "and our student athletes set several records for the number of athletes honored for academic successes."

Visitors to the exhibit also can preview the university's DVDs for future students, have Cyclone tattoos applied to their cheeks, pick up football posters, purchase merchandise from the University Book Store and use computers to send "e-postcards."

Out of proportion?
One too many fried Snickers on a stick at the fair? Then head over to the ISU Extension exhibit, located in the northeast corner of the Grandstand. There, specialists will educate fairgoers on keeping portions in proportion, according to Elaine Edwards, extension communications specialist.

The highlights of the past year's "Lighten Up Iowa" program also will be featured, revealing how many tons of weight were lost statewide, as well as how many miles participants walked.

Hall of Fame to be announced
For the second year, the 4-H program will induct members to its Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during the state fair, according to Denise Schwab, 4-H youth development specialist. About 50 longtime 4-H volunteers will be honored on Sunday, Aug. 17.

The first-ever 4-H alumni reunion also will be held at this year's fair. Receptions are planned for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Both receptions will be held in the 4-H Exhibit Building. Former 4-H members also are invited to visit the "Tell Your Stories" booth, where they can record their own 4-H experiences.

More than 3,000 4-H members from all 99 counties will show an estimated 4,000 exhibits in the 4-H building during the fair. The 4-H building also is the site for the more than 1,100 presentations prepared by 4-H members. They include educational presentations, clothing discussions, extemporaneous speaking performances and non-judged "Share the Fun" performances.

Another 1,900-plus 4-Hers are slated to bring nearly 7,900 livestock and horticulture entries to the fair. Market sheep (1,857 entries) and market swine (1,777 entries) will boast the most livestock entries this year.