Amos Talks To Fair Exec Dir Cindy Hoye As Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann Looks On
The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Friday, August 7, 2015. (Interview with Lr. Gov. Ellspermann At 1:56 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). One of Afternoons with Amos’ fun excursions is broadcasting from the Indiana State Fair. Especially on Opening Day. The broadcast occurred live from the Fair’s Grandstand and as always focused on one of the key objectives of the Fair, which is bringing Indiana Agriculture alive to city residents. Indiana’s State Fair is designed to be a showcase for the multi-billion dollar agricultural economy of our state. The broadcast began with an exclusive in-depth interview with Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann. She talked about the fact that 2015 hadn’t been a good year for Indiana’s Farmers. The steady, sometimes heavy rains has taken a toll of farms. So much so that the state has asked to federal Government to declare a bunch of Indiana counties as agriculture disaster areas. Lt. Gov. Ellspermann was asked to address how her office and Indiana agriculture could help with the food desert crisis in Indianapolis, including neighborhoods surrounding the Fairgrounds. Ellspermann, in her interview, discussed a number of programs that could provide assistance and help in alleviating the crisis, both short term and long term.
(L-R) Lt. Gov. Ellspermann, Erin Park of Calgary Stampede, Amos, Fair Exec Dir. Hoye
(Cindy Hoye Interview At 19:40 Mark) State Fair Executive Director Cindy Hoye has been an integral part of revitalizing the Fair in her eleven years on as the Fair’s top official. Hoye talked frankly about the effort to discourage Fairground vendors from displaying the Confederate flag and making sure the Fairgrounds and the Fair are welcoming to all. Hoye also discussed the Fairgrounds’s efforts to be relevant and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods, which are majority-Black. Indiana’s fairground is one of the few in the country located in a minority-majority neighborhood. And Hoye discussed the fun aspects of the Fair and the efforts to make the State Fair safe for all. (Calgary Stampede Interview At 14:46 Mark). During the interview with Hoye and Lt. Governor Ellspermann, Amos saw a band marching down the Fair’s Main Street. Seems the band was in town from Calgary, Canada and part of that nation’s world famous Calgary Stampede. It so happened that one of the Band’s leaders, Erin Park, walked by. Amos stopped him and he had a lively discussion with Amos, Hoye and a surprising admission from the Lt. Governor.
Amos With Farmers Valerie and Dave Duttligner
Amos With State Fair Queen Madeline Hayden
(Interview with Farmers Valerie & Dave Duttligner At 47:30 Mark). The featured focus of this year’s State Fair was Year of the Farmer. An Indiana farm couple, Valerie and Dave Duttligner talked with Amos about the joys and perils of farming in the 21st Century. The Duttlingers have a 1,000 acre farm in Gentryville, a town of just 272 persons in Spencer County,in the far southwestern part of Indiana on the Ohio River. The pair talked passionately about their farm where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat and raise pigs. The interview is a fascinating look at modern American farming and why American farmers are the best in the world, with the help of huge investments in land and machinery and the most modern technology from computers, to GPS systems, even radar in the tractors. (Interview With State Fair Queen At 38:32 Mark). Indiana State Fair’s 2015 queen is a sophomore from rural Plainfield in Hendricks County Madeline Hayden. She talked with Amos about her travels to a number of country fairs during her reign which began in January and will end next January. Hayden is majoring in Audiology at Purdue and hopes to become an Audiologist, which is doctor that deals with hearing problems and disorders.
With Gobble Gobble Vendor Alfie Ballew
With Vendor John Barto
“Deep Fried” Corn on the Cob
(Interview With Alfie Ballew At 32:44 Mark and John Barto At 1:08:30 Mark). Food is a staple of the Indiana State Fair. Especially unusual and exotic ways of cooking and preparing basic foods. In the Afternoons with Amos State Fair visit, Amos talked with two fair vendors. Gobble Gobble is a Black-owned State Fair Vendors located on the northside of the Fairgrounds (off 42nd Street). As the name implies turkey is their specialty. Alfie Ballew of Gobble Gobble talked about her turkey legs, as big as the ones at Disney World but lower priced and her Fair specialty the Turkey Manhattan sandwich with sweet Indiana corn drizzled on top. Another Fair vendor also on the northside of the fairgrounds is Barto’s Concessions. John barton brought for the Afternoons with Amos crew Deep Fried Indiana Home Grown Sweet Corn. You know the Indiana State Fair has to feature a “deep fried” delicacy and Barton’s seemed to be that. (Interview With Gary Hobbs At 42:17 Mark). But excitement wasn’t just inside the Fairgrounds. At the corner of 38th and Millersville Road, in an old chocolate factory that once housed ITT Tech, African-American developer Gary Hobbs plans to adapt the factory for use as a multi-unit apartment building, slated to open at State Fair time next year. Afternoons with Amos talked with Gary Hobbs about his prob project and how it helps the revitalization of the Fairgrounds Meadows area. The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST Runs 93 Minutes ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.
