By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. —While fair and festival season may seem like an eternity from now, the staff of the Indiana State Fair gear up for the annual event by preparing to honor Indiana’s hardwood industry dubbing 2008, the “Year of Trees.”
“It just makes a lot of sense, really, to recognize hardwoods this year, it’s the state’s largest agriculture industry, and it contributes nearly $17 billion dollars in economic impact every year,” said Andy Klotz media relations manager for the State Fair. “Last year, we saw a lot of success with the “Year of Corn” campaign, so we hope it has the same effect for the hardwood industry.”
“We feel privileged that the State Fair has chosen to celebrate hardwoods with the “Year of Trees,” said Ray Moistner, executive director of the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Assn. “By the time people leave the fairgrounds, they will learn everything there is to know about trees from the seedling in the ground to the end products out there doing the world good as furniture, floors and cabinets.”
As part of the celebration, the fair will construct a covered bridge that will be permanently located on the State Fairgrounds’ west side.
“It’s the perfect tie in to our focus on hardwoods this year,” said Klotz.
According to Klotz, when completed, the covered bridge will measure 90 feet long by 21 feet wide and be a spitting image of the famous Bridgeton Bridge in Parke County, Ind. All of the logs being used to build the structure have been donated and have already been transported to the grounds. Construction on the bridge began Monday, March 17, as crews arrived to set up portable sawmills to cut the logs. The bridge is expected to be completed in time for the State Fair, Aug. 6-17, and will serve as a centerpiece for Indiana hardwoods for many years to come, according to Klotz. The bridge will also serve as the site for opening ceremonies, while the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Assn. will be the opening day sponsor of the fair, kicking off the “Year of Trees” festivities.
“The covered bridge will be a great symbol not only of the history of agriculture but also, the state’s largest agriculture industry, which is hardwoods,” said Moistner. “Hardwoods has been one of Indiana’s best kept secrets for a longtime now, but just within the last few years people have really started to take notice of how vital this industry is to our state’s economy.
We’re planning on making a big splash at the Fair this year, making it a memorable year for fairgoers and hopefully an educational one as well,” he added.
In addition to educational signage posted in and outside of the covered bridge, Klotz said that 50 different species of Indiana trees have already been planted across the grounds and “tree-via” facts about trees will help communicate the message of the importance of hardwoods to the state’s economy. Special events include a chainsaw artist, lumberjack show and a wood splitting demonstration. Also, the infamous gift shop near the south side of the grounds will be covered to resemble a giant tree and will be named the Tree Top Gift Shop for the 2008 State Fair.
For additional details,   visit www.in.gov/statefair/