State Fair sets 2013 as Year of Popcorn

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The 2013 Indiana State Fair will celebrate one of the state’s biggest – but perhaps not best-known – crops: popcorn.

"People have long known Indiana for being a tremendous corn-producing state, but very few folks know about our popcorn production," said Indiana State Fair Executive Director Cindy Hoye. "This is the year we make sure all Hoosiers realize that their main movie-watching snack was likely grown and manufactured right here in Indiana."

Indiana’s popcorn crop is the second-largest in the country, and almost all popcorn is grown in the U.S., the State Fair said in a news release. Indiana also has several popcorn companies, some dating back to the early 1900s.

The theme of next summer’s fair, though, will be “Fun at Every Turn.” The fair is set for Aug. 2-18.

It will be the seventh straight fair to shine a spotlight on the state’s agricultural products. Previously featured have been corn, trees, tomatoes, pigs, soybeans and dairy cows.