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Indiana State Fair gets underway in the INFB Fall Creek Pavilion

The Indiana State Fair opening ceremonies got underway this morning in the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion.

The annual event unofficially begins when ag leaders from across the state attend the Indiana Pork Ham Breakfast.

Jeanette Merritt, director of communications with Indiana Pork, says the new multi-use pavilion will offer year-round opportunities for the industry.  

“I think it’s really important this pavilion is a year-round facility and so we’re going to showcase pigs in here for the run of the Indiana State Fair. But in the other eleven months of the year, there will be track and field events and car shows and all sorts of different events that come in and out of here,” she says. “There is educational material that stays up in this building year round and so audiences are going to come that probably have very little ties, if any, to agriculture and they’re going to have the opportunity to learn about pork production by attending whatever event that they are here for. That’s a great way to reach the general public.”

The ham breakfast was followed by opening ceremonies. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb discussed the importance of agriculture at the state fair.

“To be from Indiana and to be able to share the Indiana ag story (during the state fair) and how we have not just persevered through the times and fed and fueled the world, but how we innovate and how we determine the destiny of not just Indiana ag, but ag at large is a real source of pride,” he says.

Some inclement weather caused gates to close and some events to be delayed, but the all clear was given and gates reopened when storms passed.

The Indiana State Fair runs through Aug. 20.