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State Sen. Jean Leising co-chairs annual Rural Caucus meeting at Indiana State Fairgrounds

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 15, 2024) – State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) co-chaired the 2024 Rural Caucus meeting in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Legislators met with stakeholders to discuss key issues impacting Indiana's rural communities, including farmland loss, education, property taxes, agriculture policy, energy sustainability and local economic development.

Speakers included:

• Cindy Hoye, Executive Director of the Indiana State Fair Commission

Property Tax:

• Christopher Lagoni, Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association
• Katrina Hall, Indiana Farm Bureau
• Ryan Hoff, Association of Indiana Counties

Farmland loss:

• Director Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)
• Deputy Director Katie Nelson, ISDA

Livestock and Poultry Disease Infrastructure in Indiana

• Dr. Bret Marsh, Board of Animal Health

Biofuels and Bioeconomy:

• Dallas Gerber, Growth Energy
• Doug Berven, POET Ethanol

Foreign Export Agriculture Product Development

• Ed Ebert, Senior Director of Market Development, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council

Education

• Commissioner Chris Lowery, Commission for Higher Education
• Superintendent Paul Ketcham, Batesville Community School Corporation

Technology Hubs in Indiana

• Andrew Kossack, Applied Research Institute

"As chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, I look forward to using the insights of the expert speakers on the issues when considering policy that will help our rural areas grow," Leising said. "Our agricultural industry is one of the strongest in the country, and events like these bringing together legislators, farmers and other stakeholders ensures we can create good policy that benefits all Indiana residents."

Following discussion, attendees visited the fair and some attended the Harvest Reception and Dinner, hearing from four Indiana governors about leadership: current Governor Eric Holcomb, Vice President Mike Pence, Governor Mitch Daniels and Senator Evan Bayh.

State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) co-chairs the 2024 Rural Caucus meeting in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Wednesday, Aug. 14, and presents a commemorative clock to Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch for her service to agriculture, with Chief of Staff Anne Valentine accepting on her behalf. Legislators met with stakeholders during this event to discuss key issues impacting Indiana's rural communities.

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State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) represents Senate District 42, which includes
Decatur, Fayette, Ripley and Rush counties, and portions of Franklin, Jennings and Shelby counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.