Indiana soybean farmers open farm gates to fairgoers

Indiana soybean farmers are opening their farm gates to the public through a new exhibit at the 2012 Indiana State Fair. Jane Ade Stevens, Indiana Soybean Alliance executive director says the 6,000 sq ft building, called the “Glass Barn” is designed to engage it’s visitors with the everyday life of grain and livestock farm families. “We want our consumers to know what’s going on on the farm, to open up the barn doors and to show people what is actually going on at today’s farm” she says. “The intent of the building is to try and break down any myths that may be out there about how food is grown today.”

Stevens tells Brownfield they realize the challenges of getting consumers on to actual farms. The Glass Barn is designed to give fairgoers the opportunity for a “virtual visit”. “One of the main parts of the exhibit will be a theater” she says. ”Where we hope to use today’s technology and have an Indiana farmer talking to state fairgoers while the farmer is at his farm and the fairgoer is at the fair, in our building.”

She says the Indiana State Fair attracts nearly 1,000,000 visitors every year – and opening the virtual door to the farm through the Glass Barn provides opportunity to connect the consumer with the producer.