By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Although this year’s fair theme is The Year of the Pigs, fair organizers and state officials repeatedly emphasized the important role agriculture plays in Indiana’s economy and landscape. By bringing in a statue depicting the well-known American Gothic painting, fair organizers hope to honor that role.

Gov. Mitch Daniels said agriculture has been a cornerstone of his plan to reinvigorate Indiana’s economy since before his election.

“It was my intent to return attention that seemed lacking, for some unknown reason,” Daniels said. “I felt like the state was missing an opportunity, an economic opportunity, by not giving agriculture what it needed to flourish.”

The governor said he was recently invited to speak at a USDA event, in part, because of the growth of Indiana agriculture in recent years. He said many other traditional farm states are no longer “ag friendly.”

“There are states that are adopting an almost hostile attitude toward agriculture,” Daniels reported. “Indiana is going to be a pro-ag state every day that I am in this job.”

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) warned fair visitors that this November’s election is crucial. He is worried about the impact of tax breaks brokered being lifted at the end of 2010. “We’re going to see an enormous tax increase in January if nothing changes between now and the end of the year,” he said.

Best joke of the day
Pence offered opening day’s best quip by teasing Congress while celebrating this year’s fair theme. “I heard you intended to have someone from Washington D.C. speak at the annual ham breakfast after the fair’s theme was dedicated to Congress,” Pence said with a wry smile. “You know, ‘Year of the Pigs.’”

Gov. Daniels went a different way with a pork pun – after arriving at the breakfast on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

“I thought it would be a good idea to ride a hog to the state fair to celebrate ‘the Year of the Pigs,’” Daniels said.