Everyday Science Comes to Life at the Sweet Exploration Station
Media Contact: Amanda Rain
arain@omsi.edu | P: 503-797-4510
[LATAH COUNTY, ID – September 15, 2026] – For the fourth year, traveling educators from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will bring hands-on science experiences to the Latah County Fair, September 17–20. Part of the Fair’s Interactive Educational Area: Sweet Exploration Station, OMSI’s Science Fair invites visitors of all ages to experiment, solve puzzles, investigate natural objects, and explore the science woven into everyday life.
Sweet Exploration Station Coordinator Susan Stauffer estimates that approximately 12,000 people visit during the Fair. Some return day after day, including young people who are at the Fair caring for and showing animals, to find a welcoming, educational place to spend time between activities. “One of the things I love is seeing kids who don’t think of themselves as ‘science kids’ get completely engaged,” Stauffer said. “They discover science is different from the stereotype they may have had and that they really enjoy it.”
Stauffer also hears from a lot of rural community members who say they would not have had the opportunity to travel to OMSI and are excited to find them at the Latah County Fair. She enjoys watching people of all ages work together on puzzles, become absorbed in hands-on activities, and stop to observe demonstrations. OMSI Educator Blade Weedman agrees saying, “Seeing how passionate people get about finding solutions together is really fun and it’s awesome to see how excited people get when they learn something new.”
Everyone can be a scientist, and science doesn’t only happen in labs or classrooms. It happens when we ask questions, test an idea, examine something more closely, or try to figure out how it works. OMSI educators create opportunities for visitors to follow their curiosity at their own pace, whether they stop for a quick demonstration or spend an afternoon working their way through different puzzle challenges.
Bringing science experiences into communities is an important part of OMSI’s commitment to furthering science education throughout the Pacific Northwest. OMSI Educators bring hands-on activities and demonstrations through Science Fairs, Assemblies, a Portable Planetarium, and over 30 classroom lab programs.
The Latah County Fair draws approximately 24,000 visitors each year and remains free to attend, making it an especially accessible gathering place for the region. Within that setting, OMSI’s hands-on science experiences offer an invitation to explore something familiar in a new way: to notice the science in the world around us, follow a question wherever it leads, and discover that science belongs to everyone.
Find more information about the Latah County Fair here.
Images available here courtesy of Susan Stauffer.
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About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums and a trusted educational resource for communities throughout Oregon and the region. Through museum exhibitions, public programs, outdoor programs, traveling exhibitions, digital learning, and learning research and design, OMSI nourishes a lifelong love of science, curiosity and learning among its diverse audiences. The upcoming OMSI District – a collaboration of local, Tribal and regional government entities, nonprofits and businesses – will be a one-of-a-kind neighborhood with innovation, culture and science learning at its heart. OMSI is located at 1945 S.E. Water Avenue, Portland, OR, 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit omsi.edu. Connect with the museum on Facebook and Instagram.
About Latah County Fair
The Latah County Fair is a four-day, admission free event welcoming over 20,000 families, friends, neighbors and communities from across the Palouse with a carnival, food, fun, games, entertainment, animals, logging sports, educational activities and more. A very proud Latah County tradition since 1911. Learn more here.
About the Sweet Exploration Station
Sweet Exploration Station is a free, interactive education and discovery area located in The Depot at the Latah County Fair. Designed for all ages, the Station brings together local organizations, businesses, educators, and community partners to provide hands-on exhibits and engaging learning experiences that inspire curiosity and exploration. Collaborators have included University of Idaho colleges and programs, Palouse Discovery Science Center, SEL, Moscow Volunteer Fire and EMS, IPTV, Doceo Center, OMSI, Pacific Science Center, and several others. Each year, approximately 100 student volunteers from the University of Idaho and Moscow High School help bring the experience to life, welcoming thousands of fairgoers and encouraging participation through interactive activities. The Sweet Exploration Station has become a popular destination for families, students, and lifelong learners alike, celebrating community connections, innovation, and discovery.
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