Indiana farmers will help celebrate at annual wine festival

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 24, 2012) — Indiana grape growers will not be the only farmers represented at this year’s Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival, on June 2.  Indiana’s Family of Farmers, including beef, corn, pork, poultry, dairy, and soybean farmers, will also be present at Military Park this year.  They’ll share information about today’s agriculture with the wide array of consumers who visit the annual wine festival.

“We as dairy farmers are proud to be represented at Vintage Indiana this year,” said Sarah Wagler, a dairy farmer from Morgantown, Ind. “We think this is a great opportunity to inform Hoosiers about the positive impact agriculture has on our state.  Not to mention that everyone loves cheese with their wine!”

Along with giving away free cheese and wine glass tags, Indiana’s Family of Farmers will have a booth space featuring the fun and educational Wheel of Agriculture.  Vintage attendees can spin the interactive wheel, answer a question about farming and win prizes that include grill brushes, cheese boards and other fun items.  Vintage attendees can also have their photos taken with farming mascots like Porkchop the Pig, Bennie the Bean, Buttercup the Dairy Cow and Hannah the Hen.

Speaking of mascots, don’t miss out on the social media contest with the mascots. Here’s how it works. While you are at Vintage Indiana, upload a picture of you with a mascot to Twitter with the hashtag #IFOFmascot.  One lucky winner will win a special prize. 

The 13th annual Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival will feature nearly 30 Indiana wineries, over a dozen food vendors, and more than 20 art vendors. For more information on Vintage Indiana, visit http://www.vintageindiana.com/.

For more information about Indiana’s Family of Farmers, visit www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com.

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Contact Michelle Plummer at plummer@winnersdrinkmilk.com or 317-842-3060.

About Indiana’s Family of Farmers
Indiana’s Family of Farmers works to raise awareness that Indiana’s farmers are among the top producers of the grains, produce and meats you eat every day.  We believe that quality farming means quality food that is good for you, your families and the environment. That’s our promise: Food for your family, from our family. Visit www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com for more information.

Lovin' Our Pets and Our Pigs

By Sarah Ford of Indiana Pork

At Indiana’s Family of Farmers, we love our pets and our pigs.  Whether our household pet (and we all have at least one good barn dog) or our precious livestock, taking care of the animals entrusted to us is a duty and a privilege. 

That’s why IFOF is a sponsor of the 8^th Annual Mutt Strut sponsored by the Humane Society of Indianapolis.  The event, which will be held next Sunday, May 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, gives dog lovers the chance to walk around the famous track for a good cause.  All proceeds will go to the Humane Society of Indianapolis – so you can know that Indiana animals will be cared for with the proceeds!

Stop by the IFOF booth and dress up your pup with an IFOF bandana.  All it takes is a $1 donation to the humane society to take one home with you.

It’s not too late to register – Plus, how cool is it to walk you dog around the greatest track in the world?!

In honor of our involvement with the Indy Mutt Strut  (and because we just love all things animals) Indiana’s Family of Farmers is making a special offer.

We are going to donate $250 to your favorite local pet shelter.  All you have to do is reply to this post with your nomination.  Tell us why this shelter is worthy of our donation – of course, cute puppy and kitty pics are always welcome!

So tell us your story (on here, facebook or twitter) and we’ll choose a winner later this week!

News Release: Indiana's Family of Farmers Celebrate Being Everyday Environmentalists at Earth Day Indiana 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (April 18, 2011) – Indiana’s Family of Farmers are exhibiting at Earth Day Indiana 2011 on Saturday, April 23, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at White River State Park at 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis.

Indiana’s Family of Farmers, a coalition of more than a dozen ag-related organizations, will be among the more than 140 exhibitors at this year’s celebration.

Among the many exhibits on display on behalf of Indiana’s Family of Farmers is an activity your youngsters will not want to miss! Children stopping by the booth will learn how to grow soybeans in CowPots – manure-fiber based seed starter pots that allow for unrestricted root growth – resulting in stronger, healthier plants. You sow the seeds, plant the pots and harvest the crop.

In addition to the kids’ activities, Indiana farmers will sponsor informational booths about the sustainability of Indiana agriculture as well as offer information about Indiana agricultural products. Indiana pork farmers will also be represented in the food booths where Indiana-raised pork will be offered.

For more information about the free Earth Day Indiana 2011event on April 23, visit www.earthdayindiana.org.

For more information about the organizations represented by Indiana’s Family of Farmers, visit www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com.

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The following are some Fun Facts from Indiana’s Family of Farmers about sustainability and environmental stewardship practices accomplished right here in Indiana:

«  Pork farmers have worked with state and federal regulatory agencies to develop and present environmental workshops for more than 5,000 producers throughout the nation. These cooperative and educational efforts have improved operational efficiency while protecting the environment for future generations.

«  Cattlemen also are recyclers, raising their animals on the abundant source of grains available in this country and then turning the manure into natural fertilizers

«  Between 1987 and 2007, corn farmers have reduced soil loss per bushel of corn by 69 percent and land use per bushel of corn by 37 percent.

«  Soybean farmers are planting crops that are resistant to herbicides. This allows farmers to come close to eliminating plowing on their fields. The resulting environmental benefits include better soil health and conservation, improved water retention, decreased soil erosion and decreased herbicide runoff.

«  Indiana farmers using biotech crops have contributed to the elimination of 379 million pounds of pesticide applications globally.

«  Of the 65,000 dairy farms in America today, most are smaller farms with less than 200 cows. The vast majority of U.S. farms – big and small – are family owned and operated.

«  One benefit of fertilizing the soil with cow manure is to help conserve water. When manure is used as a soil treatment, the water-holding capacity of soil is increased by 20 percent, resulting in reduced groundwater needed to grow crops.

About Indiana’s Family of Farmers

Indiana’s Family of Farmers grows the grains, produce and meat you eat every day.

We believe that quality farming means quality food that is good for you,

your family and the environment.

Learn more at www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com.

Food for your family, from our family.

  

Contact information:

Jeannie Keating, Manager of Media Relations

Indiana State Department of Agriculture

317.696.9695, jkeating@isda.in.gov