Indiana Farm Bureau is ready for the 2017 Indiana State Fair. From new attractions like the Peterson Farm Brothers show on Opening Day, August 4 and the "Barn Theater" featuring videos of Hoosier farmers sharing their stories to favorites like "Taste From Indiana Farms" (August 15-17), Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast (Aug. 16), "Ag Fact Adventure" scavenger hunt and, yes, free popcorn. The Farm Bureau Building is located on the north side of the fairgrounds just inside gate 12.

Contact:
Molly Zentz
317-692-7822
765-469-3150
mzentz@infb.org

(Indianapolis) – July 31, 2017 – Indiana Farm Bureau looks to educate thousands of fairgoers about Indiana agriculture in the Indiana Farm Bureau Building at the Indiana State Fair this year. Free events, activities and displays, giveaways and farmer testimonials are aimed at educating Hoosiers about their food, fuel and fiber and the farmers who grow, raise and process these commodities.

INFB will reach fairgoers through a collection of games and exhibits inside the Farm Bureau Building on the north end of the fairgrounds. The content covers many areas of agriculture including farm technology, household byproducts, food production and labeling, sustainability and economics.

“It is so crucial for those of us involved in agriculture to share our story, since the average person today is at least three generations removed from the farm,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “The Indiana State Fair is a great way for us to advocate for agriculture to a large audience year after year.”

• Ag Fact Adventure and The Wonder Trail: The Ag Fact Adventure scavenger hunt walks guests through the Farm Bureau Building, encouraging them to learn something new about agriculture in their quest for a prize. INFB also sponsors The Wonder Trail, which leads participants around the entire fairgrounds for a lesson in modern farming.
  
  
• Barn Theater: New this year in the Farm Bureau Building is a ‘Barn Theater’ wall showing videos of farmers across Indiana. The videos will showcase farmers of lumber, cattle, turkeys, flowers, goat cheese, apples, mint, wind, hogs and grain.
  
  
• Free popcorn: INFB will serve free popcorn every day from noon to 5 p.m. and will host a popcorn sweepstakes in the Farm Bureau Building each day. Guests can enter a drawing to win free popcorn for a year (400 bags of microwaveable popcorn). Popcorn is courtesy of Preferred Popcorn in Palmyra, Indiana.
  
  
• Peterson Farm Bros: The Peterson Farm Bros will perform in the Farm Bureau Building on August 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. The Peterson Farm Bros are three brothers from a farm family in central Kansas who have become a YouTube sensation and use social media to promote agriculture. Socializing, a photo opportunity and autographs to follow.

• Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast: INFB will hold the annual Old-Fashioned Pancake Breakfast on Farmers Day, August 16, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Main Street. Pancakes, sausage and drinks are available for a $3 suggested donation to support the Indiana FFA Foundation.
  
  
• Taste from Indiana Farms: The INFB Women’s Leadership Committee will host “Taste from Indiana Farms” in the Farm Bureau Building auditorium, August 15, 16 and 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fairgoers have the opportunity to sample free, locally-grown foods, served by Indiana farm families, and take home a collection of recipes from the event. This year’s featured foods are beef meatballs, cinnamon apple juice, cucumbers and pickles, pretzel snacks, ham slices, semi-sweet chocolate chips, pulled duck, vegetable juice, cheese cubes and lamb burgoo.

"We always look forward to opportunities to teach Hoosiers a little bit more about how their food is produced,” said Isabella Chism, INFB’s second vice president and Women’s Leadership Committee chair. “At ‘Taste’ visitors can sample the food we grow and interact with the farmers who grow it. It’s a great opportunity to get answers directly from the source and enjoy quality, homegrown foods.”

The Indiana State Fair takes place August 4 through 20 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Events Center in Indianapolis. Daily gate and building hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Farm Bureau Building is located on the north side of the fairgrounds just inside gate 12 and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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About Indiana Farm Bureau: Since 1919, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected the livelihood, land, equipment, animals and crops of Hoosier farmers. It is the state’s largest general farm organization and a farmer’s strongest advocate. INFB works diligently to ensure a farmer’s very right to farm, because agriculture is so vital to Indiana’s economy.  Learn more at INFB.org