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Indiana celebrates National Ag Day

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has declared March 19th Ag Day in the state.

State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb tells Brownfield Indiana is home to more than 94,000 farmers.

“When you put agriculture and natural resources together, it touches every Hoosier’s life and it’s really, really rewarding for me to think about celebrating National Ag week when you put it in that kind of perspective,” he says. “I’m just very proud of agriculture in Indiana.”

Lamb says the state’s industry is valued at over $18 billion in agricultural production, the ninth largest in the country.

“We really do produce a tremendous amount of agricultural products,” he says. “We’re number one in popcorn number one in duck and gourds. We’re number two in pumpkins. When we think about our big things of soybeans and corn and hogs, we’re in that four and five range as far as that goes, we’re number six in watermelon.

He says the Indiana Grown Symposium coincides with the day to elevate Hoosier-focused agriculture and food companies.

More than 60 Hoosier Homesteads Awards will also be given this week to families operating on the same farmsteads for at least a century.

AUDIO: Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture