Stay Informed

Taste From Indiana Farms, an annual event sponsored by the Indiana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, is back for 2021, and volunteers and fairgoers will find that although there will be changes, many things will stay the same.

The event will have a new location – the state fair’s Ag/Hort Building – and will run for five days instead of its traditional three days. In addition, in order to conform to county and state food safety restrictions, volunteers will be distributing prepackaged food samples instead of the mix of fresh and packaged samples they’ve handed out in previous years.

“We are so happy to be back, and while things will be slightly different this year, our volunteers are eager for the opportunity to once again offer Taste,” said Blaire Bennett, INFB member engagement coordinator.

Like most Indiana State Fair events, Taste From Indiana Farms had to be cancelled last year, and the Women’s Leadership Committee instead sponsored a virtual event over INFB’s social media channels.

But in 2019, more than 5,000 fairgoers came to the Farm Bureau Building for free food samples, information about Indiana agriculture and cooking demonstrations.

“It’s our largest consumer-facing event,” said Isabella Chism, INFB 2nd vice president and chair of the committee.

While it’s impossible to predict how much the new location and schedule will affect the number of people who visit Taste, there is a definite possibility that it could increase. Not only will the event run for five days instead of three, but two of those days will be over a weekend, and the hours have been extended as well.

For 2021, volunteers will be handing out samples of six different foods, including mints, cheese and popcorn, Bennett said.

Using prepackaged foods, “shows the consumer that the food that comes from the farm does show up in packaged foods,” Chism said. “We can communicate with the consumer that agriculture is everywhere, it’s in everything.”

In recent years, Taste has added science and cooking demonstrations, and that will continue this year, Chism said.

“I will be excited to share cooking tips and short cuts in the kitchen – always my favorite things to share,” said Margaret Gladden, INFB District 5 education and outreach coordinator. “Come visit us in the Ag/Hort Building for Taste From Indiana Farms 2021.”

“Taste From Indiana Farms gives Indiana agriculturists an opportunity to educate people who do not understand our industry about how food gets from the farm to the table,” added Sheryl Seib, District 9 education and outreach coordinator. “Did you know that the amount of soil needed to feed the world is only 1/32 of the earth's surface?  Come learn how healthy soil equals a healthy food supply.”

Other volunteers seem to be equally optimistic, Chism and Bennett said.

“I think the prevailing attitude of our members is, ‘Let’s make this great,’” Chism added.