Spotlight on the CHS Miracle of Birth Center and Its "Super Volunteers"

By Jenn Stromberg, MVMA Marketing & Communications Manager

At left, Dr. Mary Olson speaks to the gathered crowd as a sheep goes into labor. At right, Dr. Nancy Peterson coaches a rotation student through delivering her first lamb.

Sitting down for a conversation with several current and former co-chairs of MVMA’s Miracle of Birth Center (MOBC) committee, it was apparent they share a bond born of working closely together over the course of many years. Currently a team of seven, made up of Drs. Mary Olson, Holly Neaton, Nancy Peterson, Kevin Haroldson, Katherine Pjevach, Marjorie Schleper, and Michaela Olson, these super volunteers are the driving forces behind the Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair. Recently retired from their co-chair roles, Drs. Florian Ledermann (who first advocated for opening a birthing center at the fair) and Dave Wright have also been instrumental in making the MOBC happen nearly every summer since 2001.

It was about 25 years ago that MVMA’s Large Animal Committee began having conversations about developing a public relations effort similar to what MVMA’s Surgery Suite was for small animal veterinary medicine. They understood that increased urbanization in Minnesota meant most people were no longer just a generation or two removed from farm life. The general public didn’t really know where their food came from, and when people saw animal agriculture represented in the media they often didn’t have the knowledge to understand modern innovations. Additionally, the role that large animal veterinarians have in ensuring the health of farm animals and the safety of our food supply was largely unrecognized by the public.

In 2001, the Miracle of Birth Center exhibit made its Minnesota State Fair debut after lots of planning, hard work, and successful conversations with the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota FFA, and the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine, all of which continue to be instrumental partners. A new building—the red barn that is now home to KARE 11—was constructed where the FFA’s children’s barnyard exhibit had been and was home to the Miracle of Birth Center for the first several years. Popular and packed with fairgoers from day one, the MOBC moved into the new and larger CHS building in 2006, where it now draws an estimated one million visitors during the Minnesota State Fair each summer.

The MOBC’s Profound Impact

The Miracle of Birth Center has impacted countless lives since its inception—from visitors to volunteers and organizers to veterinary professionals as a whole who benefit from the public’s increased awareness.

The possibility of witnessing a live birth—not to mention baby animals—draws visitors by the thousands. As they make their way through the barn, visitor questions give veterinary professionals the opportunity to teach how animals are cared for and the role veterinarians play in their care. Those who are lucky enough to visit during a birth learn as moderators narrate over the PA. 

“I love when there are 1,000 people in the barn and the calf comes out, takes its first breath and everybody starts cheering and clapping. You never get over that,” Dr. Olson shared.

There’s something about witnessing birth that also gets people reflecting more deeply about life—and death. Dr. Neaton recalled a time when, sitting in the viewing bleachers, a fairgoer spontaneously opened up about her life story, which included a near-death experience.

Dr. Olson shared a story from one of the very first evenings of the MOBC’s inaugural year. An elderly woman in a wheelchair told her how wonderful the Miracle of Birth Center was. Dr. Olson agreed, but admitted she was concerned about what would happen when they inevitably delivered a dead baby. The woman looked at her and said: “I had dead twins. You need to do this.” It was a lesson in the value of being honest and open about the reality of death. “I have carried that all these years because it’s at the essence of what we do—understanding that life is precious and not a guarantee,” Dr. Olson said.

The learning, impact, and exchange of knowledge that happens at the MOBC goes far beyond the original vision of public education. The 100+ DVM, CVT, and DVM student volunteers, fourth-year rotation students, FFA youth, and industry representatives all learn from and support each other on a daily basis. Rotation students get their first hands-on experiences attending to the births of calves, lambs, and piglets under the guidance of MOBC co-chairs. Behind the scenes in the break room, veterinary professionals compare notes and discuss shared interests, and students gain invaluable insight through interaction with the DVMs they will soon call colleagues. 

A Behind-the-Scenes Peek at the Work

Making the Miracle of Birth Center happen each year is no small undertaking. Preparation for the following year’s MOBC begins before the current summer’s fair even ends, with co-chairs debriefing and adjusting future plans based on challenges encountered and new ideas sparked that summer. The co-chairs meet and coordinate all kinds of details throughout the year. Sourcing animals and coordinating with farmers/owners is one of their many duties. 

The dairy cows, which will return this summer after 2024 H5N1 protocols meant no calving last summer, have been coming from the same farm since 2001. Dr. Olson recalls making a cold call to dairy farmer Bryan Haubenschild asking if he’d be willing to let some of his cows give birth in front of people at the Minnesota State Fair. He was supportive of the educational goals of the MOBC and said he’d give it thought. To her surprise, a few days later he said yes, and has been supplying cows for the MOBC ever since.

Dr. Neaton initially got involved after Drs. Olson and Ledermann approached her to provide sheep for the MOBC, which she did for the first 16 years of the exhibit. Now, she coordinates sourcing sheep from a colleague, noting that because August isn’t traditional lambing season, it takes a special person/operation to be willing to provide pregnant sheep for the fair. 

Once the fair rolls around in August, it’s all hands on deck! The seven co-chairs create a schedule that ensures at least one of them is (and often several are) present and on duty at the MOBC at all times, including overnight. It’s a significant time commitment, and many of them use vacation days from work in order to volunteer their time. Co-chairs welcome and brief volunteers who arrive in three shifts each day, attend births, teach and mentor rotation students, provide veterinary care for the animals, coordinate with exhibit partners, interact with fairgoers, and manage any challenging situations that arise. 

It’s a monumental undertaking, and while the co-chairs devote an enormous amount of time and effort to make the Miracle of Birth Center a reality each summer, it would not be possible without also having the contributions of exhibit partners and more than 100 DVM, CVT, and DVM student volunteers, FFAers, and industry reps staffing the barn daily.

A Rewarding Volunteer Role

When asked what they most enjoy and what motivates them to volunteer in the capacity of committee co-chairs, several common themes emerged, including service, gratitude, teaching, and the importance of this effort to the profession.

Dr. Ledermann spoke about service being at the core of the work of veterinary professionals, and how rewarding and important to our happiness it is. Others echoed that sentiment. “You feel good at the end of the day,” Dr. Olson chimed in.

Dr. Neaton said one of her favorite things is talking with fair visitors and understanding how much they appreciate the MOBC. “We get thanked multiple times a day; people will just come up and say thank you, thank you so much for doing this.”

They all shared how much they enjoy working with the students. “I like when the rotation students pull a calf for the first time,” Dr. Peterson said. Bearing witness to their sense of accomplishment and amazement, seeing students apply what they learned in vet school in practice for the first time, and being there to support them is incredibly rewarding, the co-chairs agreed.

Volunteers Needed!

Not everyone has room in their life for the kind of volunteer commitment the MOBC co-chairs have undertaken. But they hope you will consider signing up for at least one four-hour volunteer shift this summer!

Dr. Peterson said: “I’m encouraged by the number of small animal veterinarians who, once they try out volunteering at the MOBC, keep coming back because they have so much fun. You don’t need to work in large animal medicine to volunteer. You’ll remember what you learned in vet school, and we’re here to help.” 

“I think it would be a good thing for every veterinarian, no matter what field they’re in, to just spend four hours there and see what the impact is on our profession and how much people appreciate it,” said Dr. Neaton.

You can be part of this meaningful effort to teach, connect, and share knowledge for the good of the veterinary profession. Learn more.

This article originally appeared in the July/August issue of the MVMA Messenger.