TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The largest outdoor Indiana farm show is a little more than two months away.

The Farm World Expo, Aug. 1-3, at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds in Terre Haute is preparing for its fourth annual event. Organizers believe that the show will continue its growth pattern.

Expo officials are pleased with the increased support from Vigo County sponsors. A new sponsor for this year’s event is The Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Hospital of Terre Haute.

“The Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Hospital is excited to be the health sponsor for this year’s Farm World Expo,” said Kristi Roshel, the marketing and public relations manager for Union Hospital.

“We are busy planning the largest health fair we’ve ever participated in. We will have more than 20 booths representing many health topics, many will offer free health screenings. There will be medical experts available for questions and lots of give-aways, too.”

Blood pressure checks, accuchecks for blood sugar and skin cancer assessments are just a few of the services that Union Hospital is planning to provide during the Expo’s Rural Health Day, which will be Aug. 2 in the air-conditioned Floriculture Building at the fairgrounds.

The Lugar Center for Rural Health was established in 1992 with the mission of preparing and training primary care physicians for a successful rural practice.

The center also works to expose medical students not yet decided on a career to the rewards of delivering health care services in a rural area.

Dr. Eric Beachy, who is a 2002 “graduate” of the Center, is now the medical director of the Clay City, Ind. Center for Family Medicine. The Clay City center is affiliated with Union Hospital and will take part in the Expo, too.

For more information about the Lugar Center for Rural Health, visit its website at www.lugarcenter.org

Many old favorites, such as the petting zoo sponsored by Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, the Purdue University “experts” stage and the antique tractor parade and tractor pull, will return this year.

Also returning is Ron Dietrich of the National Kiddie Tractor Pullers Assoc. The Kiddie Tractor Pulls are scheduled for Aug. 2-3.

The Wabash Valley Fairgrounds is located on U.S. 41, less than one mile south of I-70. For more details about features at the Farm World Expo, call 1-800-876-5133, ext-188, or visit the Expo’s website at www.farmworldexpo.com

This farm news was published in the May 31, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.