POCATELLO — The annual preparedness fair is set to take place this Saturday in the ballroom of the student union building at ISU for anyone who wants to learn more about preparing for any kind of emergency.

Betty Pierce, one of the organizers of the event, said it will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the ballroom of the Pond Student Union Building at 1080 S. Fifth Ave.

“There are lots of booths and lots of valuable information about preparedness,” Pierce said. “There’s also classes taught from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. that have a lot of good information.”

Pierce said she was able to have the fair held at ISU this year thanks to Karen Trumbull, who will be teaching a class on dehydrated meals at the fair. She had asked Trumbull if she would be interested in coming to the fair, and Trumbull asked if Pierce would want to combine with ISU.

“She said, ‘Let me make a call,’ and shortly after that I got a text,” Pierce said. “That’s how it began.”

People who visit the fair will have the opportunity to receive a free 72-hour starter kit if they visit 10 booths and collect stickers from each. There will be activities for children and teenagers.

“We will also have a children’s center,” Pierce said. “Little kids will be able to assemble their own 72-hour starter kits.”

The topics that will be discussed at the fair include thermal cooking, minor household repairs, herbal first aid and self-reliant health. Each topic will be discussed by local organizations and professionals.

“We have Idaho Power coming,” Pierce said. “We’ve got the fire department and the police department.”

Some of the classes will teach various kinds of meal prep, such as how to make sourdough bread. One woman will even teach people about beekeeping and will have live bees in a special case.

“We have someone teaching about backyard chickens,” Pierce said. “People have been asking for that.”

Pierce encouraged everyone to visit the Preparedness Fair because it will give everyone a chance to learn something new. She said she always learns something new at these events.

“There is a wealth of knowledge in these booths and also in the classes that are being taught,” Pierce said.