Wilson County Fair - Tennessee State Fair: Watch animal birthing exhibit in-person, online

Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Animals giving birth is now a must-see, on-site exhibit at the Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair.

And online. The streaming spectacle draws millions of views from around the world. Get ready for piglets and chicks. Foals (horse), poults (quail), kids (goat), and more.

Their parents were bred to likely give birth during the fair, which starts Thursday and continues through Aug. 27.

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This year’s Birthing Barn  includes incubators — for the first time — to assist with hatching and birthing.

A baby pig that was part of the 2020 birthing barn as part of the Wilson County Fair that wasn't held in its entirety because of COVID-19.
A baby pig that was part of the 2020 birthing barn as part of the Wilson County Fair that wasn't held in its entirety because of COVID-19.

The Birthing Barn was launched at the 2018 fair as a pig named Squeekers gave birth to 10 piglets and propelled an internet sensation. Livestream views watching Squeekers give birth and mother the piglets drew 13.6 million clicks from around the U.S. and outside the country.

“Anytime you can get that type of exposure it is certainly a plus,” Wilson County Fair President Randall Clemons said about the Birthing Barn that has continued to build its onsite and online presence.

What's new at Wilson County's Birthing Barn?

This year’s birthing barn adds incubators for the first time to hatch chickens, quails, and turkeys. The incubators will join pigs, mules, horses, cattle, and goats that are bred so that at least some are expected to give birth during the fair, which starts Thursday and continues through Aug. 27.

Two pigs that recently had babies a little early will be part of this year's birthing exhibit.

A goat that was part of the 2020 birthing barn as part of the Wilson County Fair that wasn't held in its entirety because of COVID-19.
A goat that was part of the 2020 birthing barn as part of the Wilson County Fair that wasn't held in its entirety because of COVID-19.

“It’s about education,” said Tim Edwards, who organized the birthing barn with Jennifer Apala of Edwards Feeds in Lebanon. “The first year we noticed all these people taking photos and asking questions.”

Fair: What are the birthing livestreams?

Birthing live streams include birthingbarn.org on Facebook Agricultural Learning Center – Lebanon TN – Wilson Co, on Instagram at the agricultural learning center. The Birthing Barn is held in a covered arena on the north side of the James E. Ward Agricultural Center.

There are plans to build a new state-of-the-art Agricultural Learning Center at the fairgrounds that would incorporate the birthing exhibit during the fair.

The Agricultural Learning Center will be used year-round for Future Farmers of America, 4-H programs, school groups, and other educational uses. The cost is estimated at $5.5-$6 million Edwards said.

A pig that was part of the 2020 birthing barn as part of the Wilson County Fair that wasn't held in its entirety because of COVID-19.
A pig that was part of the 2020 birthing barn as part of the Wilson County Fair that wasn't held in its entirety because of COVID-19.

The Wilson County Commission recently appropriated $2 million toward the Agricultural Learning Center pending a contractual agreement between Agricultural Learning Center and Edwards and the county's Agricultural Center Management Committee. About $4.5 million is raised toward the future Agricultural Learning Center.

This marks the second year the Wilson County and state fairs are held together. But, it's the first with a full year of planning after it was approved by the state legislature last spring.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County - Tennessee State Fair: how to watch birthing livestream