The Midway arch at the Indiana State Fair. The 2024 fair saw more than 854,200 visitors, an increase of 10,000 compared to 2023.
Tabby Fitzgerald | TheStatehouseFile.com
After more than 150 years of hosting Indiana’s largest fair, the Indiana State Fair continues to dish up new, eye-catching foods, introduce new activities, and draw increasing crowds despite temperatures nearing 100 degrees.
The Indiana State Fair just wrapped up its 167th year last month, hosting just short of 1 million visitors over its 15-day span. More than 854,200 ride enthusiasts and funnel cake samplers stepped through the fair’s gates, an increase of over 10,000 guests as compared to 2023’s attendance of 840,414.
The Indiana State Fair stated that many of its vendors and partners hit record sales, and its research showed an overall increase in how long visitors stayed at the fair during their visits.
“This year was special in many ways,” said Cindy Hoye, executive director of the Indiana State Fair Commission. “Each year has its own memories, and the 2024 Indiana State Fair was one of our best! The Art & Nature of Fun theme, with our partners at Newfields, brought incredible new exhibits and immersive experiences for our guests.”
A centuries-long af-fair
As tasty as the food might be, the fair was founded to celebrate and promote state agriculture—a theme still prevalent at this generation’s fairs. The Indiana State Fair was created on Feb. 14, 1851, when the Indiana General Assembly passed a law “for the encouragement of Agriculture,” which included the formation of the State Board of Agriculture (Indiana Acts 1850-51, Chapter 3, ISLR 345.1 i385).
Though its genesis occurred nearly 200 years ago, controversy struck earlier this year over which governing bodies truly control the Indiana State Fair. As reported by The Indiana Capital Chronicle, discussion over who runs the Indiana State Fair popped up during the latest legislative session this past March:
“Ten words slipped into the 112-page House Enrolled Act 1120, a property tax turned administrative bill, give Indiana’s finance-oriented State Fair Commission the power to set fair dates, and strip that authority from the fair-focused State Fair Board,” the article stated.
The commission ultimately said it had no interest in using its newly expanded authority to change the fair’s dates, but the controversy confirmed that discussions around the fair aren’t all funnel cakes and free concerts.
Work behind the whirl
Thousands of FFA staff, leaders and children still travel to the fairgrounds every year to put months of practice and work to the test. More than 10,000 exhibitors and youth competitors showed or displayed a combined 52,000-plus animal and non-animal projects during the 2024 Indiana State Fair.
Among them was Olivia Kral, a member of the Franklin Community Future Farmers of America chapter. Kral, a junior at Franklin Community High School, didn’t show her own livestock—her goal at this year’s fair was a charitable one.
“I was at the fair this year volunteering with my FFA chapter in the cattle barn. We stayed in a dorm in the barn for two weeks,” she said. “We helped keep the barn clean, helped keep the show arena clean, and helped set up and tear down the arena for all the cattle events.”
Kral said it was her first time at the Indiana State Fair, making the bright lights and sweet smells all the more exciting—especially when taking breaks from the cattle barn to taste new foods.
“The state fair is a lot bigger than my county fair. I spent at least three days walking around with some friends, just soaking everything in,” she said. “Every fair has county fair food, but not every county fair has state fair food! The milkshake bar, the bison egg rolls … My friend and advisor tried the pickle pizza and loved it!”
Kral’s fresh fair eyes were enamored by the amount of activities offered.
“There’s so many things to look at and stop by. Like the FFA pavilion, the dog dock diving, the exhibit halls, the racetrack, the prairie village, and all the rides. It’s definitely not a boring experience walking around the fair,” Kral said. “There is something new around every corner.”
Like Kral, 18-year-old Audrey Jewell also spent her state fair experience in the cattle barn.
Jewell held similar responsibilities to Kral, like sweeping stalls and preparing the barn for shows, but it wasn’t her first rodeo. This year was Jewell’s third go ‘round the fair, and the food never stops exciting her.
“I love trying all the new and different foods every year because they all have different options each year. I also love going out and playing the carnival games,” Jewell said before going on to recommend the highly controversial pickle lemon shakeup.
While she said trying out new foods and games was fun, helping younger generations was one of the most rewarding parts of her fair experience.
“When I first started coming, I didn’t know the rules. I didn’t know what to do, where to go, what to touch, what not to touch,” Jewell said with a laugh. “I feel like it’s a lot better for me now, especially after the years that I have gone before. I know what to do now with those kids that come in and don’t know what they’re doing, I can help educate them on what’s going on, or what they’re allowed to do, what they’re allowed not to do.”
With more experience and a bit more confidence, Jewell said she’s excited to keep coming back—partially just to see what new things get introduced.
“It’s always been so much fun to ride rides and see all the different things that they have. Each year, they always have something different,” Jewell said. “I love just seeing how it changes throughout the year.”
By Ashlyn Myers, a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
