by Gary Truitt – January 7th, 2010
2010 will be the “Year of the Pigs” at the Indiana State Fair. Fair spokesman Andy Klotz told HAT they are partnering with Indiana Pork Producers to promote pigs and pork. Klotz said one of the reasons Pork was chosen was because of the desperate economic conditions many Hoosier pork producers find themselves in, “We want to do what we can to help turn this economic crises around.” “Indiana’s pork farmers recognize this unique opportunity to directly connect with consumers at the State Fair, and are excited about sharing with them the truly impressive story of producing pork in our state,” Mike Platt, executive director for the Indiana Pork Producers, said. “It’s a story of innovation, ingenuity, strong family values, commitment to quality, and dedication in the service of our fellow Hoosiers.”
Over the past 3 years, the fair has featured trees, tomatoes, and corn, but this August pigs will take center stage at the fair. Klotz says they are busy coming up with all kinds of creative ideas to promote pigs and pork, “We will have the Racing Pigs back, which were a big hit last year; and that is just the beginning of the many informational and educational programs we plan to have.”
Of course the special featured food at the fair will be built around pork, “There are all kinds of new food items that can be created; this may be our best year ever for the Signature Food Contest.”
The purpose of the program is to educate Hoosier consumers about some of Indiana’s major farm products. The Year of the Pig will focus on promoting pigs and pork. “This is very exciting. This will put pork in Indiana into the limelight and show many people that our industry plays a large economic role in Indiana,” said Mark York. He and his wife, Chris, run Riverbend Farms in Roann, IN, where they produce about 25,000 hogs each year.
The promotion will be a twofold event: promoting pigs and pork. Klotz said there will be plenty of live pigs and cooked pork around the fairground. The Gazebo, at the center of the fairgrounds, will reflect the theme as well, perhaps as giant Piggy bank reflecting the economic impact the pork industry has on the state of Indiana. Indiana pork producers contribute more than $4 billion annually to the state’s economy. The 2010 State Fair kicks off on Aug 6.
Listen to the complete interview with Andy Klotz
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.