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Indiana farm families to bring story of agriculture to fairgoers

The Indiana State Fair is shining a spotlight on Hoosier farmers during the 18-day event that runs through Aug. 20.

Hill Farms located in Hancock County was the featured farm family operation for opening day of the state fair.

Heather Hill tells Brownfield, “the featured farmer program is a great program sponsored by Corteva Agriscience at the Indiana State Fair. It’s a great way to feature Indiana Hoosier farm families and connect with the consumers and fairgoers to let them know a little bit more about what we’re doing on our family farms.”

Heather says it’s an opportunity to show consumers how much farmers care about the crops and animals they raise.

“What we do on our farm is make sure we’re providing the best care possible to our pigs and to our crops because we’re raising food for our family to eat as well as everyone else’s family to eat,” she says. “As farmers we care. We care about our animals. We care about our crops. Taking care of them and the environment is our number one priority on our family farms because we want to make that it is sustainable and can be around for future generations. That’s really what I hope that consumers hear from farmers.”

Today, Hill Farms includes a 600-sow farrow-to-finish operation. The family also raises corn, soybeans, and wheat.

Steve and Debi Hill started Hill Farms 50 years ago, and their son, Mark, and his wife, Heather, joined them to continue that half-century legacy of raising Indiana pigs.

Heather and Mark have three children — Addison, Reese, and Hadley — who help on the farm when they’re not in school.

The Hills’ pigs are raised in climate-controlled barns where the thermostat is adjusted to precise temperatures, depending on the age of the pigs. A curtain is raised or lowered as weather changes to allow in fresh air for ventilation.

Opening Day of the Indiana State Fair began in the brand new Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion.

Heather Hill says, “it’s super special. Our kids are the fourth generation to exhibit at the Indiana State Fair. We’ve heard talk for all these years about a new swine barn being built and so to be the featured family on opening day with the opening of the Fall Creek Pavilion and to kick it off with the Indiana Pork Ham Breakfast was super special as a family of pork producers.”

She says the Indiana State Fair provides a great opportunity to educate the general public about agriculture in the state from specialty crops to corn and soybeans to all the livestock.

The other 2023 Featured Farmers presented by Corteva Agriscience include: Hackman Family Farm Market in Jackson County; Morgan Brothers LLC in Vermillion County; Risin’ Creek Creamery in Morgan County; Groth Farms in Randolph County; Marble Hill Farm in Monroe County; Able Acres Polled Herefords in Montgomery County; Howard Swine Farm in Cass County; Country Meadows Farm in Steuben County; Scherle Tree Farm in Dubois County; Estes Dairy in Shelby County; K-Brothers Inc. in Cass County; Carterly Farm in Boone County; Cornucopia Farm in Washington County; Whaley Farms Partnership in Newton County; At Ease Orchard in Hancock County; Dutch Country Organics in LaGrange County; and Sunset Ridge Berries and Blooms in Owen County.