INDIANAPOLIS — At the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association
Fish Fry, multiple state dignitaries praised the university for the
accomplishments it is making in the agriculture industry.
Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor and new president of
Purdue University, noted that the annual Fish Fry is a fabulous tradition,
highlighting a proud history for the Purdue School of Agriculture.
He said the school consists of many great people and will
continue to produce other great people in the future.
Daniels noted that being at the Fish Fry made him reflect on
his time as governor and how universities such as Purdue are part of the reason
he and his former partner, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, developed the first Indiana
State Department of Agriculture.
He added that the people who live and work in agriculture
were an essential part of Indiana’s economic comeback during the last few
years.
Joining in the praise of Purdue and Indiana agriculture was
the state’s new lieutenant governor, Sue Ellspermann.
She told attendees that one big goal moving forward in the
Gov. Mike Pence administration will be having enough food for a growing
world.
Ellspermann added that this task will require a lot of
innovation, which currently is occurring at Purdue through the School of
Agriculture, whether students want to be agronomists, engineers or
researchers.
She said agriculture will be what drives the economy in
Indiana, providing food for Hoosiers, which is why the state needs students
majoring in all the areas of agriculture that Purdue has to offer.
Also on hand during the celebration was Sen. Joe Donnelly,
D-Ind., who added it was an honor to be at the Fish Fry with fellow
Hoosiers.
He noted that he fought to get on the Senate Agriculture
Committee after he was elected and was successful.
Donnelly told producers that he wants their help in putting
together the new farm bill. He stressed that he would love to hear from Hoosiers
from every corner of the state.
He noted there is much more wisdom in a room of Indiana
farmers than in Washington, D.C.
“I hope to be known as a workhorse, not a show horse,”
Donnelly said.