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State Fair To Highlight Farmers

Jim Grey
/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilene/14738709658

The Indiana State Fair this year is shining a spotlight on the Hoosiers who help put food on the table as part of its “Year of the Farmer.” 

The State Fair’s theme is typically a product or animal – that includes the Year of Corn, of Pigs, Dairy Cows, and Tomatoes.  But State Fair spokesperson Lesley Gordon says this year, the focus will be on what ties all those things together – the farmer.

“So we’ll have 17 different farmers that we’ll bring in each day from a different commodity group, showcasing what they do, what their families do, to help feed our nation,” Gordon says.

That will include an Indianapolis urban farmer, corn and soybean growers, livestock farmers, and even fish producers. 

Gordon says the Beer and Wine Exhibition, which allows fairgoers to try alcohol from around the state in a contained location within the Grand Hall, will be expanding because of the positive feedback received in its debut last year.

“That was both from vendors and visitors, so yeah we’re adding a few breweries and wineries and including some meads this year to,” she says.

The Fair opens Friday – and Hoosiers will have to pay a little more to get in.  For the first time in three years, admission prices increased, from $10 to $12.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.