Paula Edwards of Stephenville, Texas, leads a Moo U tour in the livestock area at the Nebraska State Fair, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Moo U is a new attraction offered at this year’s Nebraska State Fair.
Trained guides lead participants on tours through livestock areas at the Fair. Moo U is based in Celeste, Texas.
Paula Edwards of Stephenville, Texas, led a tour on Aug. 24. Participants started out going through the Birthing Pavilion at the State Fair.
Participants first looked at a pig and piglets. Edwards said that pigs give birth to 10 to 16 piglets at a time. She gave facts about pigs, such as the original insulin came from pigs. Piglets nurse for 21 days, then are weaned off.
She gave statistics about what percent of animals comprise what humans eat. She said that pork comprises about 36 percent of the meat market, while beef comprises 24 percent of the meat market.
As livestock are processed, about 98 percent of an animal’s parts are used, Edwards said.
The tour next moved to an area with goats. She said that more people consume goat’s milk than milk from dairy cows. A goat produces one to two gallons of milk, which can be consumed in one day. A goat typically has two babies, because the female goat only has two teats. There is a five-month gestation period.
According to the Moo U website: “Moo U guides want to change the way the general public views the production livestock industry. We want people to realize that the animals are more than just a food source,” the website said. “Everyone uses animal byproducts on a daily basis, if you live in a home, use electronics, drive or ride in a car. It is extremely important to educate our youth about where their food is coming from and how it is raised and grown. Our tours will be a benefit to your fair, community and school educational programs.”
According to the Moo U website, trained guides “relay interesting and little-known facts about the animals they see, teach tour participants about the complexities of the livestock industry, and give examples of the many ways animal by-products are used in everyday life.”
Jeannene Xanthus of Celeste, TX, is founder and owner of Moo U.
Xanthus explained what the purpose of Moo U is.
“The purpose of Moo U Guided Livestock Tours is to educate people of all ages about production livestock. The animals that are raised on farmers and ranches across our nation are a food source but also we use their by-products every day in our daily lives. We talk about the youth programs, both 4-H and FFA, and emphasis their importance to our youth as they are our future agriculturists,” she said.
Xanthus said that all of the guides have a basic background in livestock be it growing up on a farm or ranch. Some guides have college degrees in ag-related field from animal science, veterinary tech, etc.
“Moo U was founded in 2007. Our home base is in Celeste Texas. We are currently the only professional livestock tour company here in the United States,” she said.
“Folks that take the tours say they love the interesting facts we tell them. Kids enjoy our corny livestock jokes, and hopefully we answer all their questions Each tour is non-scripted so each tour is different. Tour guides bring their knowledge and experience to the tours along with what is happening in the barns they visit, be it shearing a lamb, fitting a heifer or a variety of other activities. At other fairs we have been for numerous years, we have folks show up each year to take a tour since they say they always learn something new,” Xanthus said.
