Fourth-year student Katie Stenger lets children pet a newborn piglet at the Birthing Center at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.
SPECIAL DELIVERY A Kansas State Fair tradition continues to bring awe-inspiring education to the public.
Story by Sarah Keatley. Photos by Joe Montgomery. The building is full of eager anticipation: children sitting on the floor with their heads peeking through the bars of the gates, parents standing above them, with their phones out, ready to capture the moment. The adults stand eight people deep, similarly, hoping to witness the miracle of life. With her contraction, the cow gives one last push, the baby calf falls to the ground, and the entire building erupts in applause and cheering as if their team had just won a championship. For some, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; for others, this is just another day at the Kansas State Fair Birthing Center. 26 | wildcatveterinarian
Advocates and students Drs. Leslie and Bryan Weaver oversee the management, breeding and organization of the Birthing Center. Just finishing their third year, the couple enjoys planning the 10day long event. “As veterinarians, we are uniquely suited to bridge the gap between urban and agriculture communities, and it is my passion to help the urban communities understand the agriculture community better,” she says.
