Encouraging Youth, Building Community: 2025 Fair Season is Here!

As the sun rises over fields of budding corn and soybeans across Indiana, another season of hard work, learning, and community is getting ready to take center stage: the Indiana county and state fair season.

For Premier, this time of year represents more to us than just livestock shows and prize-winning pies. It’s a celebration of young leaders, agricultural education, and strong community roots. We’re proud to say that many of our employees and members have taken part in their local fair in their youth, and have also passed along that tradition to their children.

And in 2025, we’re more than excited to share the ways Premier has been able to give back to both Indiana FFA and local 4-H groups across our state.

A Tradition of Investing in Youth

At the heart of Premier’s mission is a commitment to supporting the next generation of agriculture in our communities. Through strategic grants, hands-on partnerships, and authentic enthusiasm for the rural communities we live and work in, we’ve helped thousands of Indiana 4-H and FFA members prepare for success at the fair, and in life.

The past year alone, Premier Companies committed $100,000 to support 4-H initiatives in counties across southern Indiana. These funds directly benefited over 9,900 young people through educational experiences, leadership training, community events, and fairground improvements. From Chef University camps and STEM workshops to goat barn expansions and livestock mentorship programs, these projects have made a lasting difference in the lives of Indiana’s youth.

Impacting Indiana FFA: Leadership, Learning, and Growth

Premier’s investment in the future of Indiana agriculture also extends powerfully to FFA chapters across the state. In partnership with the Indiana FFA Foundation, Premier Ag’s recent grant served over 250 FFA members in 13 chapters across 10 counties, including Franklin, Seymour, Paoli, Whiteland, Indian Creek, East Central, and more.

These funds supported critical initiatives such as:

• Leadership Development: Whiteland FFA sent 12 students to the SOAR leadership camp, including one student who was honored with a Top Leader award, helping drive a 33% increase in new member recruitment.
• Career Exploration: Paoli FFA brought nine members to the National FFA Convention, who in turn shared their insights with 80+ community members.
• Educational Enrichment: South Dearborn FFA used their grant to purchase modern kitchen tools, significantly improving the safety and quality of their culinary and food science labs.

From precision ag drone projects in Harrison County to livestock handling skills in Washington County, Premier’s support has enabled FFA students to turn classrooms into launchpads for agricultural innovation.

Download the full Grant Report from Indiana FFA

4-H Chapters Thrive with Premier’s Support

Across Indiana, Premier-funded 4-H programs are cultivating confidence, creativity, and community.

Here’s just a glimpse into the diverse and inspiring projects taking place:

• Monroe County brought farm life to city students by organizing field trips for Title 1 elementary schools, reaching over 4,500 youth with hands-on agriculture, nutrition, and environmental education.
• Crawford County hosted Progressive Ag Safety Days, school garden programs, and STEM events for more than 775 youth.
• Clark County expanded its goat barn and launched a livestock mentorship program initiative connecting Mini 4-Hers with high school mentors.
• Franklin County established a SPARK Club with adventures like paddleboarding, rafting, and local history tours to spark a deeper pride in community.
• Owen County produced a youth-led play of The Jungle Book, with 44% of participants being new to 4-H, showing the power of creativity to bring in new members.

Download the full 4-H Grant Report

Each project is as unique as the community it serves, but they all share a common goal: to empower Indiana’s youth through agriculture and leadership.

Looking Ahead to the Fair

For many of these 4-H and FFA members, the fair is the culmination of months of effort; whether in the barn, the garden, the workshop, or the kitchen. Premier is honored to be a small part of the big dreams that take shape in these spaces.

As we head into the 2025 Fair Season, we can’t wait to see the posters, the projects, the prize ribbons, and the proud smiles. But most of all, we’re excited to see young people discovering what they’re capable of.

We’ll be there, cheering them on, supporting their growth, and celebrating all that agriculture makes possible in each small community and across the country.