Wonder-iffic it's terrific

That's what my kids thought anyway...but then again they watch a little too much Super Why for my taste and sing that "Wonder-iffic" song too much. But to be honest, just about any Super Why is too much for me. If you've not seen it, you're not missing much...don't go run out and dvr it or or anything. Trust me.

So what was it that was so wonder-iffic to them? The Wonder Trail at the Indiana State Fair! What is a Wonder Trail you ask? Well, here's the scoop: straight from me to you!

 Step 1: Stop at any information booth to pick up your Wonder Trail kit. The kit comes with a lanyard, pouch and pencil. Inside is a brochure with a map of all 13 Wonder Trail stops on the fairgrounds and a little info and questions for thought about each of the stops.

 Step 2: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel to 8 of those Wonder Trail destinations, find the question to answer (hint: it's below the great big magnifying glass at each stop...and it's not in your kit), then explore that location until you find the answer. Once you know the answer, write it in your Handy Dandy Notebook. Oops. This isn't Blues Clues. I mean into your Wonder Trail kit.

 Step 3: Keep searching out those answers! What do you need to know? Well, for example, at the dairy barn you might learn that calcium is an important nutrient found in dairy products. Did I mention we love the dairy bar? Oh, yeah: that was yesterday's post. Back on target... You might learn at the Pathways of Water that hard surfaces like rooftops and sidewalks contribute to run off... (and if you're wondering about the pig nose, don't forget: it's the year of the pig at the Indiana State Fair!)

 Or you might find out who invented the steel moldboard plow (hint: there's a very famous line of green farm equipment that still carries his name today)...and did you know Thomas Jefferson invented the wooden moldboard plow?

And you'll hopefully learn that farmers provide us with safe, affordable and nutritious food each and every day.

Steps 4: Take your completed kit to the Indiana Farm Bureau booth to collect your prize! Any guesses as to what it is?

A magnifying glass!! Just not as big as the ones shown here!

Verdict: the kids loved it...especially Sissy. For me, it was a little stressful. My perfectionist tendencies kicked in and I wanted to make sure all their answers were right. So if you try it, I won't be offended at all if you pick up on some of my hints...or maybe ask Heather over at 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs if Duroc hogs are red with floppy ears...or ask Ott, A if you get lanolin from squeezing sheep wool...or ask Miss Beyer at Beyer Beware if fish poop is really a fertilizer in aquaponics (she's a self-proclaimed poop expert, you know). Just sayin'.

Disclosure: The Indiana Soybean Alliance provided a family 4-pack of tickets to give away on my blog as well as tickets for my family to attend the state fair. Our meals were provided by Indiana Dairy and Indiana Pork producers. And they were delicious.