Indiana State Fair exhibit to market soybean industry

An exhibit that will open for the Indiana State Fair aims to show consumers - many of whom have no connection to agriculture - how Indiana farms work today, and will also provide some insight and exposure for the state's soybean growing industry, Hoosier Ag Today reports.

Organizers said the building, a 6,000-square-foot glass barn, will allow visitors to see what happens on the farm and which tools are used when raising livestock, soybeans and corn. Money from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the soybean checkoff program will help make the $2.9 million project possible, the source says.

"This type of partnership is unprecedented for any fairgrounds in the country," Indiana State Fair executive director Cindy Hoye told the news outlet. "More importantly, it will help us reconnect consumers with today's family farms and highlight Indiana's pivotal role in bringing high quality and affordable food to all of us."

The Indianapolis Star reports that the Indiana Soybean Alliance will also be involved in the project, which was designed by architect Jonathan Hess.