Ball State Goes Green at State Fair

INDIANAPOLIS -- After 10 months of cultivation, a seed planted by the Indiana State Fair and Ball State University has grown into a beautiful garden know as the "Backyard."

Last October, the State Fair began looking for ways to incorporate state universities into the fair's theme. Ball State's strengths in landscape design immediately came to mind for Jim Cole, director of the fair's agriculture/horticulture department.

"We wanted to choose a state university to participate in the Indiana State Fair creatively, and this was a golden opportunity given the reputation of the landscape department at Ball State. So far, they've really proven themselves," Cole said.

The project, headed by Department Chair Malcolm Cairns and Professor Les Smith, involved both students and alumni. Tina Jones graduated with a masters degree in landscape architecture in 1995 and was at the BSU display, named the Backyard, on Tuesday primping the mulch for opening day.

"This was part of a student's design/build class so they got credit for it," Jones said.

For the past two weeks, Cole said students, professors and alumni have been installing the garden at its home in the Marsh Agriculture/Horticulture Building. Jim Cole's wife Donna, who also helps at the fair, said the garden will give fair visitors some interesting ideas for their own gardens.

"The innovative ideas and creativity that have been put into the garden is something people need to come and look at," Donna Cole said.

It's a spectacle complete with Indiana flare. Jones said the Ball State Backyard was created using recycled materials and items donated by local businesses. The garden exhibit contains basketball trellises, tire lights, hogwire fences filled with corn and grain, a corn orchard and trough containers.

"Well, my first impression when they told me they were making a backyard out of basketball goals, tires and cracked glass, well being an old farm boy like me I was skeptical," Cole said. "But now I'm overwhelmed. They've done a really great job," Cole said.

Donna Cole just couldn't say enough about the small band of Ball State students that put together the exhibit. She said the group worked extremely hard.

"They were so industrious and enthusiastic. There is a lot that can be learned from those kids," Donna Cole said.

With fair goers soaking in the August heat, the garden is a place for tired visitors to kick back and relax awhile in an air conditioned room with Backyard charm.

"When you walk into this garden you really do feel like you're at home," Cole said.

The Coles said if people are looking for something with a fresh look and a bit on the unusual side, then they should come check out Ball State's Backyard.

The Marsh Agriculture/Horticulture building is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday. The fair runs Wednesday through August 22nd.

So far, Jim Cole said the partnership between the Indiana State Fair and BSU has been a match made in heaven. The two entities are even talking about ideas for next year's fair.