The Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry is this Saturday at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds in Lafayette, which celebrates all of the graduates, professors, staff, and supporters of Purdue University’s College of Agriculture.
The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating Victories and Heroes in Indiana Agriculture.”
Danica Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the Purdue Ag Alumni Association, says the Fish Fry is much like a family reunion.
“We are so thrilled when we have friends that come together. This might be the only time each year that they see each other,” she tells Hoosier Ag Today.
The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with the expo.
“We have over 40 exhibitors, sponsors, student organizations, and some of our partners from across the state that are going to be there,” she says. “They’re excited to visit with you, chat with alumni, and get to network with folks.”
This year, the parade begins at 10:30 a.m., which kicks off the Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry and ceremony.
“The Purdue [Men’s Basketball team] is going to be playing the Oregon Ducks that afternoon at Mackey Arena, and so we want to make sure everything is wrapped up before the tip-off at 1 p.m.,” says Kirkpatrick.
The lunch will be catered by Shoup’s Country Catering.
Another tradition with the annual Fish Fry, is that the lunch menu includes a sweet treat.
“One of our favorite traditions of the Fish Fry is to feature a brand-new flavor of ice cream that’s made especially for our Fish Fry guest by Round Barn Creamery,” she says. “This year, with our ‘Victories and Heroes’ theme that’s going on, we are excited to go back to our roots and celebrate with some ‘Victory Vanilla’ ice cream this year.”
After lunch, Purdue Ag Alumni will recognize this year’s eight Certificate of Distinction winners:
- Tom Hooper
- Karen Plaut
- Larry DeBoer
- Jay Hulbert
- Harold Cooper
- Dan Strahl
- Suzanne Nielsen
- Barry Delks
Motivational speaker and Purdue grad Jim Bishop is this year’s Keynote Speaker. He’s also a Purdue University Department of Animal Sciences alumnus (B.S., 1995; M.S., 1997) and the author of The Adventure Within: Why Successful Professionals Still Feel Stuck and How to Purposefully Rekindle Your Craving for Adventure.
Bishop’s presentation, “When Conflict is Helpful: Navigating conflict in agribusiness and multigenerational workplaces,” will explore how harnessing diverse perspectives and generative tension can drive innovation within the agricultural industry. Drawing from his own generational farming experience, Bishop will discuss how working through conflict can help businesses and farms thrive for generations to come. With a passion for creating a sustainable agricultural system, Bishop hopes to inspire the next generation of leaders while empowering today’s leaders to stay motivated.
After the event, Kirkpatrick invites you to stick around for a free Watch Party for Purdue Men’s Basketball game.
“We were really happy to be able to work with Maple Leaf Farms, because as Purdue is planning to ‘Roast the Ducks’ on the court, we’re all going to be enjoying some duck appetizers from Maple Leaf Farms during the game’s Watch Party as well,” she says.
Call the Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association office for remaining ticket availability: 765-494-8593.
Hoosier Ag Today will also be “On Location Live” from the Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry with our “Black and Gold Carpet Event: Presented by Beck’s Hybrids.”
Just like the “Red Carpet” at the Oscars, our award-winning news team will be chatting with Purdue’s ag alumni and state ag leaders from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
You can watch our video coverage streaming LIVE on Hoosier Ag Today’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
