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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University will host a full day of activities as part of OSU Day at the Oregon State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 24.

As part of this full day of fun and activities, special gate prices will be offered for students, faculty/staff and alumni of OSU. "Beaver Boulevard," open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., will feature information booths and activities from OSU colleges and departments. Benny Beaver will be on hand to have his photo taken with fans. The women's volleyball team will sign autographs from noon to 2 p.m. and the OSU Bookstore will be on site selling Beaver merchandise.

Other activities at OSU Day at the Oregon State Fair include:

• OSU's solar vehicle team will be on site to share its experiences of competing in a 2,400-mile race from Dallas, Texas to Calgary, Alberta, using solar power. Its car, Rain Dancer, will be on display for guests and visitors can chat with the team's student members. Rain Dancer is powered by more than 400 solar cells and weighs 600 pounds.
• The Austin Family Business Program at OSU is hosting a Family Business Photo Contest. Family businesses are encouraged to e-mail a photo ahead of time. The 10 finalists will be selected for display and judging at the Oregon State Fair. The photos will be judged at 3 p.m. by a panel at the fair which will include OSU President Ed Ray, College of Business Dean Ilene Kleinsorge, Geoff Horning, executive director of Agri-Business Council of Oregon, Doug Hart, owner of Hart's Nursery and Holly Peterson, owner of Corvallis-based Ball Studio. To submit a photo, email the photo, photo title, and contact information before Aug. 15 to to Melissa Elmore at [email protected].
• The Lego Robotics Challenges are open to youth ages nine and older and will be in the 4-H Exhibit Building Aug. 24-26. They are one of nine projects in the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) program of Oregon State's 4-H Youth Development. "Sumo Bot" contestants build robots they hope will last longest in the ring; the "Fastest Bot" moves most quickly down a 20-foot track; and the "Art Bot" winner will create the most artistic project. There also will be a catapult and trebuchet competition, and students in grades 7-9 and 10-12 can bring their own technology project to demonstrate its abilities to a judge. Registration for the Lego challenges can be made by contacting county OSU Extension offices or by contacting Mona Easley at 541-737-1327 or [email protected]. Registration also can be made the day of the fair at the 4-H information desk in the 4-H Exhibit Building, but there is a limit to the number who may participate. Registration fee is $10. Robots can be created from Legos kits or miscellaneous parts. More information is at: http://oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu/programs/events/state%20fair/2008/computer.pdf
• The SMILE Program will offer hands-on explorations (the design and construction) of musical instruments using simple materials.
• "Foods of the Pacific Northwest" is a foods/nutrition contest using the skills of 4-H members to prepare one food in an hour. Participants bring all the ingredients, the cooking equipment, and a menu from which the food would be served and also figure food costs and the table setting for the food. They then prepare the food and serve it to a judge. The judge interviews the cooks about the cooking skills and nutrition of the food.

The Oregon State Fair runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 1 in Salem at 2330 17th St. NE. Admission at the gate is $10, $5 for ages 65 and older, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger. Adults with an OSU I.D. receive $1 off at the gate on Aug. 24. For information, go to http://www.oregonstatefair.org/