FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2003 CONTACT: Kris Fettkether, 515-271-2833 DU The Fair! II: A Summer Sequel Not to be Missed For the second consecutive year, Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair promises to be a fun-filled day of Drake University-sponsored activities. Drake will host “DU the Fair!” on Saturday, Aug. 16. The first 500 people wearing Drake apparel to visit the Drake booth on the Grand Concourse (located in front of The Des Moines Register Service Center) will receive a free gift. Youth from the Institute for Character Development at Drake University will be on hand encouraging fair visitors to pledge their support for Character Counts! by inviting them to sign boards that will hang on display publicly in Des Moines. Patrons can also sign up to win tickets to the 2004 Drake Relays. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to meet Spike the Bulldog; enjoy music performances by Drake students and alumni; watch a chemistry magic show, listen to storytelling presented by the Drake School of Education; participate in the Bulldog Basketball Shootout with members of the Drake women’s and men’s basketball teams; pose for free souvenir digital photos in front of three distinctly Drake backgrounds; and listen to Neil Hamilton, Dwight D. Opperman distinguished professor of law and director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake present, “Putting a Face on Iowans’ Food” in the Agriculture Building. DU the Fair! II is a collaborative effort between faculty, staff, students and alumni including, over 50 volunteers, performers and participants. “Last year’s Drake Day at the Fair was a great success, so we’re doing it again this year,” said Lisa Lacher, interim director of marketing and communications. “Our goal is to have a community presence at the fair, while also providing an opportunity for Drake alumni, faculty and staff to be involved in celebrating and promoting Drake.” Drake celebrities will also be taking part in various Fair events prior to Drake Day at the Fair. On Thursday, Aug. 14, Drake President David E. Maxwell and Mark Kostek, assistant athletic director for the Drake Relays, will take part in the Celebrity Pie Eatin’ Pairs contest from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Anderson Erickson Dairy Building. On Friday, Aug. 15, Natasha Kaiser-Brown, head women’s track coach and head women’s cross country coach, will participate in the fair’s Draft Horse Competition at 6:30 p.m. in the Livestock Pavilion. Following is a list of Drake-sponsored events for DU the Fair!, Saturday, August 16: DRAKE BOOTH, GRAND CONCOURSE 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Drake information; free prize for first 500 people dressed in Drake apparel; sign the Character Counts! pledge board provided by the Institute for Character Development at Drake DRAKE PHOTO BOOTH,ROCK ISLAND AVENUE 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Free Drake souvenir photos, 25 ft. inflatable Spike. BULLDOG BASKETBALL SHOOTOUT, ROCK ISLAND AVENUE 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Try your hand at a hoops contest with Drake athletes! Meet Drake University athletics coaches and players. HERITAGE VILLAGE, COUNTRY SCHOOL 10 – 11 a.m. – Chemistry Magic, Drake University Chemistry Department 11 a.m. – noon – Storytelling, Drake University School of Education. ANDERSON ERICKSON DAIRY STAGE 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Music performance by Drake student Sarah Ricks. IOWA FOOD POLICY LECTURE, AGRICULTURAL BUILDING 4 – 5 p.m. – Professor Neil Hamilton, “Putting a Face On Iowans’ Food.” AMERICAN HERITAGE STAGE 4:30 – 5 p.m. – Musical performance by Drake student Blake Bessey. 5:30 – 7 p.m. – Musical performance by The Java Jews led by Drake alumnus Abe Goldstien.