For roughly 20 years, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary (CVM) students and faculty have volunteered at the extremely popular CHS Miracle of Birth Center, a collaboration between the University, FFA, and Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association.
Every year, more than 200 animals including calves, lambs, piglets and chicks are born (or hatched) there over the course of the fair’s 12 days.
Born to educate
Not only does the center allow fourth-year veterinary students to fulfill one of their clinical year rotations by gaining hands-on experience delivering farm animals, it also lets other veterinary students and CVM faculty educate the public about animal agriculture in Minnesota.
It was initially created to expose people who live in urban areas to animal and farm agriculture.
“The idea is for the public to be able to experience and connect with these food production species,” says Maria Pieters, an associate professor in CVM who coordinates the veterinary student volunteers. “It’s about people knowing how we raise and care for the animals in farm settings.”
Keeping animals and humans safe
Teaching about best practices to help prevent spreading diseases is one of those educational opportunities.
Jeff Bender, a professor in the School of Public Health and director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, works with State Fair and Miracle of Birth planners to implement public safety measures at the fair.
“I help the State Fair planners consider ways to keep people safe when being around animals that may have bacteria or germs that they could pick up such as where to place handwashing stations, how to develop prevention signage, and ways to clean surfaces,” says Bender.
As part of this effort, CVM volunteers regularly remind people to wash their hands if they pet an animal and to not eat or drink around them.
Rewarding work
Students and faculty continue volunteering at the center because it’s an excellent opportunity to interact with the Minnesotans and learn from each other.
“To me, volunteering at the Miracle of Birth Center has been really eye-opening because I come from a background where food production animals are part of life,” says Pieters. “Talking to people with different perspectives makes you see the importance of public education and public health.”
Bender has volunteered at the center for decades and says, “The Miracle of Birth Center’s title fits it well. A lot of people are amazed that a baby lamb can stand shortly after being born. People will ask us how they can stand up and walk so quickly, or how long it takes for a chicken to hatch, or how we know an animal is about to give birth.”