“Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit,” the 2021 Indiana State Fair theme, readily identifies with Indiana farmers and agriculture organizations who make it their daily priority to be innovative and forward-thinking.
“This year’s theme amplifies the programming in the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Glass Barn,” said Stephanie DeCamp, director of education for the State Fair. “Celebrating the Hoosier Spirit of the farmers who never stop during times of adversity shows resilience and commitment.”
The Glass Barn, opened in 2013, was built to educate consumers about agriculture and modern farming practices, according to DeCamp. “For more than 160 years, the Indiana State Fair has existed to support and promote Indiana agriculture,” she said. “Today, it is more important than ever that we continue to work with our Ag partners across the state to reach consumers with entertaining and engaging programming that teaches them about agriculture and where their food comes from.”
The Indiana Soybean Alliance will have an increased presence at this year’s fair to educate consumers about the many uses of soybeans.
“We’re excited to announce we have installed a combine simulator for the 2021 Fair,” says Matt Keller, ISA Marketing Outreach Manager. “This is an interactive experience for visitors to climb into a real combine cab and virtually harvest soybeans. Beyond the in-cab experience, visitors will be able to walk into the back of a combine to learn about the engineering that goes into these incredible farm implements. They will also be able to see a timeline of ag technology over the past century.”
The simulator is nearly 35 feet long and 20 feet tall.
“This has been an incredible undertaking and something that will serve as the flagship exhibit in the Glass Barn for many years to come,” said Elaine Gillis, a Delaware County farmer, ISA board member and featured farmer in the Glass Barn. “We recognize that only a small portion of the visitors to the Barn have ever been up-close to a combine, let alone have ever had the chance to ride in one. Through this new installation, everyone will have the opportunity to virtually operate a combine and be immersed in this one-of-akind experience.”
Guests will be invited to climb up into the custom-made simulator to see, hear and feel how these massive machines help Hoosier soybean farmers harvest their versatile crop each fall. Outside of the cab, visitors will be treated to even more information about the engineering that goes into making these farm implements work, a history of ag innovation over the past century, and the versatility of soybeans and all their uses beyond feed.
Along with the new combine simulator inside the Glass Barn, soybeans will have an increased presence at other places around the fair this year. Such as:
• State Fair’s fleet of company vehicles will be powered by a new soybean motor oil made by Biosynthetic Technologies. Nearly 3 pounds of soybeans is used in each quart of this oil.
• ISA has also been working with the State Fair food vendors to incorporate high oleic soybean oil into their deep fryers. For end-use customers, high oleic soybeans offer higher-functioning soybean oil with no trans-fat and less saturated fat that also meets the needs of a growing number of food and industrial customers.
• Soy biodiesel will once again power the Midway rides and the tractor shuttles around the fairgrounds.
• In a partnership with the Indiana FFA, SYNLawn soybean turf will be used on the putt putt course in the FFA Pavilion just a few doors down from the Glass Barn. Around 15,000 consumers play putt putt each year.
An additional, two new virtual experiences also will be featured at this year’s fair, according to DeCamp. “Machines of the Midway” takes students on rides at their seat discussing physics to biofuels. “The Science of Deep-Fried Foods” provides students with a journey of how ingredients work together to create iconic fair food and where the ingredients come from, to the oil that cooks deep fried foods. High Oleic soybean oil will be the main star of that experience.
Sharing agriculture’s story is top priority for Indiana’s farmers and ISA.
“We appreciate the fact that, as professionals in the ag industry, we have a unique opportunity to share the ag story with those who are unfamiliar,” Keller said. “This is our chance to show our visitors why farming is so important to all Hoosiers. It’s also a chance to highlight the ways our farmers are good stewards of the land, and the many innovative ways soybeans are being used at home and abroad.”
How can farmers get involved in ISA’s activities at the Fair this year?
Volunteer with us at the Glass Barn. This year, ISA needs more than 100 volunteers to help visitors play the everpopular “BeanGo” game, climb into the combine, and answer questions about Indiana agriculture during the Fair. Volunteers working a 4-hour shift will receive a free t-shirt, ticket to the Fair, and a meal coupon. If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to glassbarn@indianasoybean.com
Send in your family photo to be featured in the Glass Barn! ISA also wants to put a face to Indiana farm families by featuring farming family photos in their informational booth throughout the entire 18 days of the Indiana State Fair. Just submit your family photos by July 27 to glassbarn@ indianasoybean.com
‘Don’t-miss’ experiences during the 2021 Indiana State Fair
While COVID-19 cancelled last year’s fair, be assured your favorite fair experiences are still available for the 2021 Indiana State Fair. Here’s a brief sampling:
• GLASS BARN – Combine simulator and history of ag exhibit, , Beango, the PictureU photobooth, iCreate exhibit, the uFarm game and the WeGrow Theater that features the popular farmer chats three times per day (11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.). During the farmer chats, visitors will get an opportunity to virtually visit Indiana farms and have a chance to win $25 grocery gift cards and Indiana Dairy Bar milkshake coupons.
• LITTLE HANDS ON THE FARM, sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. Indiana corn farmers and corn products will be featured at the ever-popular Little Hands on the Farm exhibit.
• FOREVER FOREST (Farm Bureau Building) – Indiana Hardwoods Experience provides augmented reality exercise where students navigate a logger around a virtual forest and manage harvest of hardwood trees.
• INDIANA GROWN MARKETPLACE (Purdue Ag Hort Building) – Explore Indiana grown and created items.
• FOOD – No trip is complete without iconic fair food!
• PIONEER VILLAGE – Step into the past and see how agriculture has evolved.
INDIANA STATE FAIR HOURS OF OPERATION
GATE ADMISSION HOURS Monday and Tuesday: Closed Wednesday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fair closes at 10 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday Fair closes at 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday Gate admission tickets will not be sold or accepted after the gates close.
BUILDING AND EXHIBIT HOURS Monday and Tuesday: Closed Wednesday through Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Glass Barn Hours: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. 4-H Exhibit Hall Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Harvest Pavilion: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hoosier Lottery Expo Hall: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hoosier Lottery Expo Hall (Aug. 22): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
