The GLASS BARN - A New Look at Indiana Farms

What do soybeans, bacon, and ice cream all have in common?  They all start on family farms!  Indiana soybean farmers are sharing about their lifestyle and livelihoods in an all-new exhibit building- the Glass Barn!

The innovative building on the fairgrounds’ north side offers air conditioning and fun interactive exhibits that are sure to make it one of the coolest places on the grounds!  So what’s inside?

weGROW – Have your farm questions answered with live chats to Indiana dairy, pork, and soybean farms daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m..

uFARM – Grow your own crops and compete with others in this interactive game.

  

pictureU – Step up to the picture-taking station, say “cheese” or “soybeans” and then choose from several farming backgrounds to create your own, fun e-card to commemorate your visit to the Glass Barn.

uEAT - Connect the food you eat to the farmers who grow it through this touchscreen game and grocery store exhibit.

  

Did you know t-shirt fabric can be made out of soy? Check out some of the other uses for the bean and see some of the people who grow them at the Indiana Soybean Alliance booth!

Be among the first to see the new exhibit! Don’t miss the Glass Barn during the 2013 Indiana State Fair, August 2-18! To learn more, visit indianasoybean.com/glassbarn

The Glass Barn is funded by Indiana farmers and their soybean checkoff dollars.

Written by Hannah Brescher of the Indiana Soybean Alliance

Ready, Set, Hunt

It’s Fun at Every Turn this year at the State Fair and here at the fairgrounds the fun is starting a little earlier than the official start day, Aug. 2. Next week the Indiana State Fair and Indy’s i94 will be giving away great prize packages and the only way to get them is through participating in a scavenger hunt, but this is no regular scavenger hunt…this is the first ever State Fair and i94 Twitter Scavenger Hunt.

The contest will begin Tuesday, July 23, and continue the next two days, Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25. At the beginning of each day  i94 will give one clue in the eight o’clock hour and more clues will follow on Twitter @indystatefair, in order to inch participants closer to finding the Mystery Location. Participants must then head out to that location where they will find a State Fair representative with these fabulous prizes.

Prizes

• The First Person to Find the Mystery Location Each Day: 4 State Fair tickets, 2 midway wristbands and a parking pass
• Participants who are not first to the mystery location will receive a small prize and entry into Grand Prize Drawing
• Grand prize drawing: A meet & greet with  Vertical Horizon for 2 people, 4 State Fair tickets, 2 midway wristbands, 1 parking pass, spending cash and tickets to another surprise attraction in the Indianapolis area.

So tune into Indy’s i94, stalk @indystatefair’s tweets and have some Fun at Every Turn of Indianapolis!

Meet Mariah Huff, Miss Indiana State Fair 2013

A few weeks ago I had the honor of meeting 21-year-old Mariah Huff, Miss Indiana State Fair 2013. I’d heard through mutual friends that she was a great person, and that couldn’t be truer. She’s the perfect individual to represent the Indiana State Fair. Mariah is a 10-year 4-H alumnus, former 4-H Junior Leader and 4-year FFA member. She’s also a member of the National Junior Swine Association and the American Berkshire Association, previously serving as the 2009 Indiana Berkshire Queen.

“I’ve been to the fair for 20 years,” Mariah said. “I’ve never missed a year of the Indiana State Fair. I feel so honored just to be a part of it.”

Mariah stands as the first representative of Jackson County to reign as the Indiana State Fair Queen in the contest’s history. As the 55^th Indiana State Fair Queen, she has visited over 25 county fairs so far attending pageants, workshops, parades and other events. For those who haven’t had the opportunity to meet her, be sure to look for her at county fairs leading up to the State Fair. Here’s her schedule:

Date                County           Event

July 16             Decatur           Swine Show

July 17             Clay                Swine Show and/or Grand Drive

July 19             Putnam            Parade

July 20             Parke              Queen Pageant

July 21             Jackson           Queen Pageant

July 22             Vanderburgh    Queen Pageant

July 23             Jackson           Swine Show, Fashion Revue

July 24             Huntington       Awards Program

July 26             Knox               TBA

July 27             Monroe           Queen Pageant

July 28             Fayette             Parade

July 31             Morgan            Pig Wrestling

      

Mariah’s well-rounded personality does not end with her fair involvement. Outside of the fair, she is the recipient of many scholarships at Purdue University, where she studies Agriculture Education and Agribusiness Management. She’s an executive member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, Block & Bridle Club and the Indiana Association of Agriculture Educators.

Her personal interests include showing swine and Boer goats, promoting agriculture, horseback riding, assisting current 4-H members, watching basketball and traveling.

Mariah will be at the State Fair daily as the Official Hostess of the event. On Aug. 18 her successor will be announced in the afternoon after the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant.

Published by Hilary Welter

Fairgoers can help feed hungry Hoosiers

Two years ago I volunteered at a food kitchen in a local church and was so humbled to see citizens taking action against hunger in the Indianapolis community. Now that it’s fair season, I think of the thousands of people attending county fairs enjoying elephant ears, corndogs and other favorite fair foods while hunger is still a present issue in Indiana. According to the hunger in America 2010 Indiana State Report, approximately 694,500 Hoosiers are unable to survive without Food Banks each year.

 

This summer, the Indiana State Fair, Indiana Association of Fairs, Festivals and Events, Elanco and Indiana Farm Bureau are taking a stand to help eliminate hunger through a new program called FAIRs Care. The program challenges Indiana county fairs to create a Fair Food Drive for canned goods or monetary donations to serve their local food pantries. At the conclusion of the State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 18, Elanco and Indiana Farm Bureau will award eight $500 awards to county fairs to continue hunger drive programs in 2014.

Here is a list of county fairs participating:

Marion            June 21 to June 29

Vermillion        June 21 to June 28

LaGrange        July 6 to July 13

Lawrence        July 6 to July 13

Decatur           July 11 to July 18

Starke             July 13 to July 20

Wells               July 13 to July 18

Hendricks        July 14 to July 20

Jennings           July 14 to July 20

Noble              July 14 to July 20

Hamilton          July 18 to July 22

Porter              July 18 to July 27

Elkhart             July 19 to July 27

Allen                July 23 to July 28

Monroe            July 27 to August 3

While a few of these fairs have already taken place, the majority are still to come.  If you’re attending any of them, please take along canned goods or consider a monetary donation. Not only will you feed a hungry Hoosier, but you’ll be able to reap the benefits! The Indiana State Fair, Elanco and Indiana Farm Bureau will reward each donation of a minimum of $3 in canned goods or monetary support with two admission tickets ($20 value) good for any day of the Indiana State Fair, Aug. 2 – 18. Thanks!  

Posted by: Hilary Welter