The 2012 Indiana State Fair is the “Year of Dairy Cows,” which is designed to highlight the industry’s impact on the state.
Dairy products are Indiana’s 4th largest agricultural commodity, with corn, soybeans and hogs being the top three.
Danica Kirkpatrick with Indiana’s Family of Farmers says some of the fair food will have a dairy flavor.
"Lemon Chiller Shake, which is a lemon milkshake. We also have the Moo-Chew sandwich, which is pepperjack cheese and american cheese on sourdough bread."
She says another fun thing is collecting Recipe Trail cards. Those who collect all eight could win a new chest freezer.
"Also, when they bring the cards back to the Indiana Family of Farmers' booth in the DuPont Food Pavilion, our organization will donate one pound of food to a food bank in the state for every person who completes the Trail."
While dairy is the featured food, there also will be plenty of beef, pork and chicken – all of which will be part of the annual Backyard BBQ Cook-Off. The August 11 event is sponsored by Shoup’s Country Foods in Frankfort.
Catering Coordinator Janna Stillwell says this is the third year for the event at the fair, which offers cash and prize awards.
"It is a big thing. It's not a sanctioned event, just a local/statewide event. We have had contestants come from Illinois and Ohio. It's a really exciting opportunity for anyone to participate in the contest."
The registration deadline for the BBQ Cook-Off is Wednesday, August 1. An entry form is available HEREand other state fair information is HERE.
One change for this year is the large concerts will be performed at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis. That’s a result of the deadly stage collapse during last year’s state fair. A shuttle bus will be available from the fairgrounds to the Fieldhouse for concert-goers.