State Department of Agriculture Plans Events at State Fair

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, who oversees ISDA, says there are opportunities for Hoosiers to learn more about the state's agriculture industry and the role it plays in everyday life.

Source: Inside INdiana Business

Press Release

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman invites all Hoosiers to attend one of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s (ISDA) 2005 Indiana State Fair events. There are a variety of opportunities for Hoosiers to learn more about agriculture and its role in their everyday lives. Lt. Governor Skillman oversees ISDA as the state’s first Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Whether you live in an urban or rural setting, agriculture has an impact on your life,” remarked Lt. Governor Skillman. “Agriculture is no longer just farms. It is the food on your plate, the fuel in your car, and it is the table in your kitchen. This year’s State Fair is a perfect chance for Hoosiers to see just how important agriculture is, not only to our economy, but our daily lives.”

In May, Lt. Governor Skillman and Agriculture Director Andy Miller, unveiled, in a statewide tour, Possibilities Unbound: The Plan for 2025 Indiana Agriculture’s Strategic Plan. The plan outlines the vision for Indiana to become a global center for food and agriculture innovation and commercialization. It lays out seven strategies to accomplish that vision.

“Since May I realized that the opportunities in these seven areas are even more bountiful than I imagined this spring,” said Andy Miller, Indiana Agriculture Director. “I am excited to share our visions and accomplishments with Hoosiers that visit the Indiana State Fair.”

During the 12 days of the Indiana State Fair, ISDA will host several events throughout the grounds, sharing the excitement for agriculture with all Hoosier visitors. Below is a list of events confirmed as of August 1. Look for additional announcements and more details on the strategic plan on ISDA’s website at www.in.gov/isda.

Thursday, August 11, 2005, Lt. Governor Skillman and ISDA officials will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. in the Marsh Agricultural and Horticultural Building. They will unveil the progress made by the department in each strategy, list early accomplishments and outline the next steps for each plan. Even though the Strategic Plan was just released three months ago, ISDA can point to early wins. For example, the groundbreaking of a new 60 million gallon ethanol plant in Putnam County and the announcement of a second 100 million gallon plant in Montgomery County, meets the goal of two new ethanol plants in the state before the initial deadline of December 2006.

Friday Aug. 12 from 6 to 8 a.m. Lt Governor Skillman will help ISDA give away ethanol-blended fuel during the World’s Largest Drive Thru Breakfast (Union Federal Bank Main Street) Together, the Indiana State Fair, Lt. Governor Skillman, and ISDA are showing their commitment to bio-fuels. All State Fair shuttles and the Fair train run on bio-diesel fuel. And during the World’s Largest Drive Thru Breakfast, fairgoers will not only receive a great breakfast, but the first several hundred cars through the breakfast will also receive a free gallon of ethanol-blended fuel. Lt. Governor Skillman, an advocate of bio-fuels, will assist ISDA in fueling vehicles. ISDA will also have people on hand to see if you own a flex-fuel vehicle that can run on E85.

Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ISDA will host an educational hardwoods display and a chainsaw art demonstration (Pioneer Village) Bob Hawkins, Manager of the Vallonia State Nursery, will highlight the state’s high quality nurseries with various seeds, seedlings, and other nursery products and information. Jack Seifert, State Forester, and Purdue University forestry specialists will also be on hand to provide educational material including information on good uses of woodlands (such as windbreaks and buffers), tips on managing woodlots and how to profit off of trees.

Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and ISDA will showcase Indiana’s agricultural diversity at the Indiana State Fair Old Fashioned Pancake Breakfast (Union Federal Bank Main Street) Indiana’s highly diverse farms must each in their own way apply unique business tools and technologies to enhance their full economic potential. Lt. Governor Skillman will assist ISDA in featuring a few Hoosier farmers who have been successful at diversifying their farms. ISDA also hopes to interview farmers at this event to collect Indiana specific information on models for diversification.

Friday, Aug. 19 at 9 a.m. ISDA will provide coupons for Indiana Kitchen bacon (Marsh Grandstand) ISDA and the Indiana Pork Producers have worked with Indiana Packers Corporation and Marsh Supermarkets to provide 1,000 fairgoers 50 cents off coupons for their purchase of Indiana Kitchen bacon at any Marsh store.

Saturday, Aug. 20 at 9 a.m. ISDA is supporting First Lady Cheri Daniels’ Heartland Walk for Health (Marsh Grandstand) ISDA supports healthy and nutritious foods in response to emerging health issues like the obesity epidemic. Therefore, ISDA is one of many supporters of Mrs. Daniels’ leading the public on a two-lap walk around the State Fairgrounds’ famous one-mile Track of Champions. The walk is open to anyone free of charge. More information can be found at www.in.gov/statefair/fair/events/HeartlandBrochure.pdf.

Source: Office of Lt. Governor Becky Skillman