By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — From presidential candidate Bob Dole to former Meet the Press host Tim Russert, year after year, the Purdue Fish Fry never seems to disappoint in the selection for keynote speaker.

And this year is no different, as former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman is set to present a captivating address on global food policy issues on Feb. 5, according to Donya Lester, executive secretary of the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Assoc.
“It’s a huge challenge every year (to select a featured speaker),” said Lester. “We’ve tried the last couple years to move toward agriculture topics, to find the voices of agriculture who are familiar with ag policy particularly dealing with food production. Keeping updated and informed is critical to the stakeholders who grow our food.”

Glickman, who served as agriculture secretary from 1995 to 2001 is now co-chair of the Global Agricultural Development Initiative for the non-partisan Chicago Council on Global Affairs and senior fellow at the Washington-based non-profit Bipartisan Policy Center.

“We are very excited that former Secretary Glickman will be our 2011 speaker,” said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. “The timing could not be better to hear from him, given his long history of involvement and leadership in shaping domestic agriculture policy and complemented by his work on the global hunger challenge through the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.”

The 62nd annual Fish Fry will take place on Feb. 5, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
According to Akridge, under Glickman’s leadership at the USDA, the department administered farm and conservation programs, modernized food safety regulations, forged international trade agreements to expand U.S. markets and improved its commitment to fairness and equality in civil rights.

Glickman also served 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas. He was a member of the House Ag Committee, including six years as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over federal farm policy issues.
Lester mentioned in passing that Glickman made one of his first addresses as USDA Secretary at Purdue University in 1995. “Former Secretary Glickman has worked with lots of global initiatives on food policy, but the big point he makes in restoring U.S. leadership in the policies of global agriculture is incredibly interesting,” said Lester.

“We try to sponsor a program with value-added material for people,” said Lester. “We want the information presented and networking opportunities at the Fish Fry to be so important that they can’t miss it. A program with a topic so thought-provoking that they will discuss and use that information throughout the year.”

In addition to the Fish Fry, the Ag Forecast will take place ahead of the event at 9:30 a.m. in the Grand Hall, also on Fairgrounds. This year the Ag Forecast will highlight topics in animal agriculture.

And thanks to Indiana soybean farmers, the Fish Fry menu will once again feature Bell Perch, an Indiana farm-raised yellow perch.

This is the third year that the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) has provided fish from Indiana-based Bell Perch — the nation’s largest yellow perch fish farm – to the menu for Purdue’s oldest and largest constituent alumni meeting.
“It’s exciting to be able to feature soybean-fed Indiana-grown Yellow Perch again this year at the Purdue Fish Fry,” said Lynn Teel, ISA president and White County farmer. “Soybeans are a main feed ingredient for the entire livestock industry and we - Indiana soybean checkoff - work hard year round to support and help the pork, poultry, egg, dairy and beef industries grow, but it’s just fun to be able to bring fish back to the Fish Fry.”

Tickets for the Fish Fry are $20 and must be bought in advance. Admission to the Ag Forecast is free. Contact Lester at 765-494-8593; agalumni@purdue.edu for ticket availability.