To celebrate the return of the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis Indians fans enjoyed four, fair-themed concession items during State Fair Foods Week presented by the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) during an August 8-13 homestand at Victory Field. Donut burgers, elephant ears, pork parfaits and pork tenderloins were available at The Range concession stand located in the Center Field Plaza.
ISA and Indians officials said this is the beginning of an opportunity to sell more concessions at the ball park cooked in healthy high oleic soybean oil.
“We were excited to offer Indians fans four fair-themed concessions cooked with a healthier high oleic soybean oil provided by the Indiana Soybean Alliance,” said Joel Zawacki, Indianapolis Indians Assistant General Manager of Corporate Sales and Marketing. “With Hoosier farmers as the top producer of high oleic soybeans in the world, bringing the Indiana Soybean Alliance on base not only as the title partner of State Fair Foods Week but as the official provider of high oleic soybean oils used in all concession stands on game days and for stadium events like SWING is a grand slam.”
Descriptions of the four fair-themed concession items available to fans at Victory Field include:
- Donut Burger: grilled bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between two glazed donuts.
- Elephant Ear: fried to golden perfection and topped with powdered sugar.
- Pork Parfait: layered with mashed potatoes, baked beans, pulled pork and bacon.
- Pork Tenderloin: sandwich served with lettuce, tomato and onions.
“There are few things that are more American – or more Hoosier – than state fair food, pork tenderloins and baseball,” said ISA Chair Mike Koehne, a farmer from Greensburg, Ind. “This is a great opportunity for Indiana’s 20,000 soybean farmers to show off one of their leading products – high oleic soybeans. Indiana is the leading producer of high oleic soybean oil worldwide. This is a healthy oil that is better for consumers than conventional cooking oil, making it a local and quality product everyone benefits from.”
In addition to being the world’s leading producer of high oleic soybean oil, Indiana is a leading state in pork production.
High oleic soybean oil is a new monounsaturated fat that is more heart healthy, according to nutritionists. The oil can handle higher cooking temperatures for longer periods, which means that it lasts longer for food preparers – making it more economical. Indiana farmers are paid a premium for growing high oleic soybeans by companies who market them to food processors.
ISA is also a frequent partner of the Indiana State Fair. The Glass Barn is a permanent structure at the fairgrounds and one of ISA’s primary educational facilities to teach consumers about the work and products of Indiana’s farmers.
“To create a better understanding of Indiana agriculture and how we grow our crops, we often need to bridge the gap that exists between farmers and our neighbors – both rural and urban,” said Koehne, who grows high oleic soybeans on his Decatur County farm. “The Glass Barn, for many years, has effectively taught folks about farming at the Indiana State Fair. We believe this partnership with the Indians also fits with our goals at the checkoff. It creates a new market for Indiana soybeans; it adds value to something we already produce, and it educates the public.”
Single-game tickets are available along with group and premium reservations. For more on Indianapolis Indians baseball, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at 317-269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.
