More than 30 legislators, 100 attendees participated in this year’s Rural Caucus 

By Dave Blower Jr. 

Among the annual events at the Indiana State Fair is the Rural Caucus, a gathering of state lawmakers who are from rural communities or who are interested in rural or farm policy. 

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and several state senators and representatives – along with industry officials from the Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Indiana Corn Growers Associations and other farm groups – attended this year’s caucus on Aug. 13 in the Normandy Barn at the State Fairgrounds. Braun encouraged the legislators in attendance to consider rural communities when considering new laws in the next General Assembly in January 2026. 

This year was the largest Rural Caucus gathering, boasting more than 30 legislators and 100 attendees. 

Led by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenberg, Ind.) and State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle, Ind.) led a wide range of discussions during the day-long meeting. Dr. Bret Marsh, Dean of Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said he is working to get more veterinarians into rural areas around the state. Andrew Sherman of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture discussed the value of farm exports to those in rural communities. 

“We had everything from Homeland Security to the Department of Ag and their trade development,” Leising said. “We had healthcare people in discussing the impact of state and federal legislation on hospitals.” 

Leising added the Rural Caucus helps make sure rural communities don’t get left out of economic development discussions. 

“Indiana has a $35 billion agricultural industry,” she said. “People just don’t realize that. I was just in a meeting in the last couple days where I wanted to stand up and scream, they were talking about other economic development, and I said, ‘Don’t forget, agriculture is an annual amount of $35 billion, and that doesn’t include all the extra things.’”