Sample a variety of bacon samples at the Iowa State University Bacon Expo to be held Oct. 19 in the Scheman Building Courtyard at the Iowa State Center from 1-5 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Sept. 6 for the family-themed event.

A total of 1,200 admission tickets will be sold at a cost of $8 each. A $10 punch card will be sold at the event to purchase a variety of bacon samples.

This is the first year the event has been held. Several vendors will be on hand with hundreds of pounds of bacon samples. The goal of the event is to provide an alcohol-free, fun atmosphere for bacon enthusiasts and showcase the student organizations and educational opportunities in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University.

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“The Iowa State Bacon Expo was founded to showcase the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State and increase consumer awareness of bacon and pork production in the State of Iowa,” says Jake Swanson, president of the Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council. “We have a solid student leadership team and we’re confident it will provide an educational and entertaining experience.”

The expo will feature student club exhibits, t-shirt sales, vendor samples and a bacon-eating contest. The entertainment will include remarks from local celebrities, culinary arts demonstrations and music.

“This is a family event that will showcase the activities we're involved in as students at Iowa State. It’s also a great way for vendors to show the versatility of bacon,” says Kristin Liska, a senior in animal science and co-chair of the Bacon Expo. “We are proud to host the first student-powered Bacon Expo in the nation.”

Sponsors for this year’s Bacon Expo include ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Elanco and Iowa Select Farms.

Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster at 8 a.m. on Sept. 6. For more information go to http://www.baconexpo.ag.iastate.edu.

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