The sprawling Nebraska State Fair at Fonner Park can be overwhelming to newcomers. This little series will point out Grand Island Tourism staff’s favorite areas and activities to help get first-time fairgoers going!
Recommended by Dana, our program and outreach manager:
Baby pigs, a.k.a. piglets, I love to watch them! It may be my fondness for Winnie the Pooh and his best friend, Piglet, but I am a sucker for baby pigs. At the Nebraska State Fair, thousands of people like me can see these incredibly cute, pink, tiny babies at the Birthing Pavillion in abundance.
A chosen few pregnant sows come here to have their babies under the supervision of Fair veterinarians who work around the clock. The mommas-to-be don’t seem to mind the company, peering eyes, or the ohhs, aahs, and questions posed by fair-goers.
At any given time of day during the 11-day Nebraska State Fair, you may be able to see a birth in progress, or even a slew of births. One year, the animal moms seemed to plan synchronized births, keeping the veterinarians on duty on their toes.
On your first visit to the birthing pavilion — there will be multiple visits — take note of the expectant mothers' anticipated birth dates, only to come back and see a little one, or 14, by momma’s side. That’s why you come back.
While you’re in the Birthing Pavilion, you can see all sorts of babies — lambs, kids, calves, and chicks. Maybe not so surprising, the chicks even have a slide for their playtime. They deserve their own amusement rides too. After all, it is a fair.
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