State agencies pour thousands of dollars into state fair to reach Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS (INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — For many attendees, the Indiana State Fair is the perfect time to celebrate Midwest traditions and have fun with friends and family. Some visitors will try eccentric food combinations — like a Cinnamon Toast Crunch funnel cake or spicy pickle pizza — or stop by the Midway for amusement park rides. Others might opt to watch livestock shows and learn more about the state’s history through the fair’s museum exhibits. 

And for some state agencies, the 15-day event presents another unique opportunity: the chance to market to more than 850,000 Hoosiers. 

State agencies including the Hoosier Lottery, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, and Secretary of State’s Office pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into the state fair each year to sponsor information booths, giveaways, concert performances, and more. 

Sponsorships from public and private groups for the fair, which climbed to $2.6 million for the 2023 event, is just one way the Indiana State Fair Commission (ISFC) brings in revenue. The commission oversees the operations for the fair and event center.

With the 167th annual ...