Three local farms will be honored at this year’s Indiana State Fair.
Continue readingPulaski County’s Meyer, Podell Families Receive Hoosier Homestead Centennial Award
Two Pulaski County farms were recognized for their longevity last week at the Indiana State Fair. The William Meyer and Theodore & Lowell Podell farms were both presented with the Hoosier Homestead Centennial Award, according to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
Continue reading2020 Indiana State Fair Canceled due to COVID-19
The 2020 Indiana State Fair has been canceled, but organizers still plan to hold a modified 4-H Livestock Show in August.
Continue readingUnique Local Farm Included in Indiana State Fair’s Featured Farmers Program
Adults: Debbie, Ed, Kristen and Jason
Children: Jackson and Zoe
A local family farm that offers fresh, saltwater shrimp is one of the 17 Hoosier farms being highlighted in the Indiana State Fair’s Featured Farmers program.
The Troike family’s Walkerton-based “Hoosier Shrimp Farm” will be in the spotlight at the State Fair in Indianapolis this week. Their day of recognition is Tuesday, August 14th.
According to an article provided by the Indiana State Fair, Jason and Kristen Troike started the Hoosier Shrimp farm in the spring of 2014, with the help of Jason’s parent Ed and Debbie. Kristen commented that the family is very proud to be able to provide landlocked northwest Indiana with a seafood product that can’t normally be obtained in-state. Continue reading
Long-time Farming Families Receive Recognition at Indiana State Fair
At the Indiana State Fair last Friday, five local farms received the Hoosier Homestead Award, recognizing their families’ century-long commitment to Indiana agriculture.
In order to be considered for the Hoosier Homestead Award, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 years and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products annually. Continue reading
Nonprofits Can Raise Funds by Assisting with State Fair
Nonprofit organizations can earn some extra money by helping out with the Indiana State Fair. Fair organizers say it takes around 600 people to staff parking lots and gates. To fill those jobs, they’re looking for volunteers from nonprofit groups. Continue reading
Indiana State Department of Agriculture Announces Photo Contest
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is accepting submissions for its 9th annual photo contest through the end of the month. It is open to the general public and was established to showcase the hard work and contributions of Hoosier farmers. Continue reading
AgriVision Award Nominations Sought
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is looking to recognize an innovator in the agriculture industry. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 AgriVision Award. Continue reading
Starke County Farming Family Featured at Indiana State Fair
It’s the “Year of the Farmer” at the Indiana State Fair, and one Starke County family is among those being featured. The Wappels, whose farm is based in San Pierre and is known for its mint crops, are one of 17 families who are being recognized. Continue reading
Hoosier Lottery Giving Away Free Tickets at State Fair
Don’t Miss Hoosier Lottery Day at the Indiana State Fair. It’s historically the biggest day at the fair in terms of attendance. Today from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. fairgoers ages 18 and older are invited to visit Lotto Town under the Hoosier Lottery grandstand to receive a free $1 Summer Fun scratch-off ticket. Continue reading
Indiana State Fair Opens Today
Hoosier Homesteads To Be Recognized At State Fair Today
Seventy-five families will be presented with the Hoosier Homestead Award this morning at 10:30 a.m. ET at the Indiana State Fair.
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of 20 acres or more or produce at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products per year. The award was created to recognize the contribution these family farms have made to the economic, cultural and social advancements of Indiana.
Indiana State Fair Continues Today With Live Performances
The Indiana State Fair continues today, having had its first full day on Friday.
At 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m., the Mapapa African Acrobats will be performing at the Free Stage, and at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m., Bixby’s Rainforest Rescue will be presented by Indiana WIC and the State Breastfeeding Coalition at the Family Fun Park.
Swine At The Indiana State Fair To Be Thoroughly Examined
The State Board of Animal Health is taking extra precautions in carefully examining pigs being unloaded at the Indiana State Fair – this after several pigs were found with symptoms of influenza A at the LaPorte and Monroe county fairs. The pigs are being thoroughly monitored and examined before being allowed to enter the swine barn.
Four people were sickened at the LaPorte County Fair after they had reportedly come into direct contact with the animals, and confirmed test results indicate the cause as a variant of the influenza A virus. Humans and swine alike tested positive for the virus, and officials say the virus was directly transmitted from the infected animals.
Judge Rules in Tammy Van Dam Case
LaPorte County Judge Thomas Alevizos issued a two page ruling Tuesday afternoon that gave a rather “limited preliminary injunction” in a case brought by the estate of Tammy Van Dam, and her life partner Beth Urschel. The suit brought by the lawyer for the two asked that the wreckage from the State Fair stage that collapsed be preserved.
Alevizos did though reject a request to preserve all e-mails, 911 calls and other evidence that could be destroyed.
He also criticized the attorney before him, Kenneth Allen, for saying he was seeking $50 million for the estate of Tammy Van Dam. The judge said that local court rules stipulate that no damage amounts be listed. He called the revelation of the amount a “publicity stunt” by the attorney.
Tammy Van Dam was killed, and Beth Urschel was injured when the stage collapsed before a performance of the county music duo Sugarland at the State Fair.
La Crosse Man Reacts to Indiana State Fair Tragedy
Just over a week after the tragedy at the Indiana State Fair, a La Crosse man expressed his reaction to the stage collapse and ensuing tragedy on the ground at the Sugarland Concert in the Northwest Indiana Times.
Tim Greiger said he didn’t like the way the sky looked so he hustled his family to safety. If he hadn’t, they would have been under the stage as it fell.
He ushered his mother and wife into a bathroom, and went back out toward his seating area. In the article Greiger said, “I saw a lot of things I wish I wouldn’t have seen, I saw people dying, and hurt all over the place.”
Greiger, 34, said he considers himself very lucky to have been spared the fate of those sitting in the area around him.
Meanwhile the mourning continues for Beth Urschel of Wanatah, the life partner of Tammy Van Dam. The estate of Van Dam is suing for $50 million dollars, and a lawsuit for Urschel is listed at $10 million.
At a press conference Friday, Urschel said, “It was Tammy’s birthday weekend, and I was taking her to see her favorite band.”
Urschel has a broken clavicle, tissue damaged in her arm, a severed little toe that was reattached and another toe that was crushed according to an article in Saturday’s Post Tribune.
Lauren Jernas to Participate in the Indiana State Fair Pageant
Lauren Jernas, who was recently crowned Starke County 4-H royalty, will be competing in the Indiana State Fair Queen pageant August 19th-21st. Lauren will be competing with 88 other contestants from around the State for the honor of being the 2012 Queen.
Lauren was asked why she decided to be part of the pageant.
“I was chosen as one of the Starke County 4-H Royalty winners so I decided to go down to the State Fair to go to the pageant and have fun and meet a lot of different girls from around the state.”
Pulaski, Marshall County Families to Receive Hoosier Homestead Awards
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana Agriculture Director, Joe Kelsay, will present 72 families with the Hoosier Homestead Award on Wednesday, August 10th at 10:30 a.m. ET. The ceremony will take place in the Indiana Farm Bureau Building Auditorium at the Indiana State Fair.
