Purdue News

January 8, 1999 Ag Alumni Fish Fry to support Indiana hog farmers WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Although Purdue University agricultural alumni far and wide know it as the Ag Alumni Fish Fry, this year a more appropriate name might by the Ag Alumni Pork Fry. For the first time in at least 50 years, fish will not be on the menu at the fish fry, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, in the Purdue Armory. Instead, the menu will consist of 1,500 pounds of boneless pork loins donated by Indiana Packers Corp. of Delphi, Ind. "We're going to slice it, bread it and fry it, so it may look like fish, but it's really going to be pork this year," said Donya Lester, executive secretary of the Purdue Ag Alumni Association. "This is our way of showing support for the tough times the Indiana pork industry is going through." This is not the first time the menu has not included fish, according to Lester. The annual meeting of the alumni association originally consisted of a chicken and noodle dinner, but fish has been on the menu at least since 1949, according to the earliest records available. The day will begin with the Purdue Ag Forecast at 9:15 a.m. at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. A panel of experts from government and the financial sector will discuss monetary policies and international trade's effects on the profitability of U.S. agriculture. Invited panelists include Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-Texas), the ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee; Randy Green, staff director of the Senate ag committee; J.B. Penn, senior vice president of Sparks Cos. Inc.; Robert Thompson, a former Purdue dean of agriculture and policy adviser to the World Bank; and Purdue agricultural economist Larry DeBoer. The moderator will be WGN's Orion Samuelson. The program is free and open to the public. Those attending the Ag Forecast will have a section of reserved seating at the fish fry. "We have long used the fish fry to celebrate our agricultural profession and say 'thank you' to the legions of alumni and friends who volunteer their time for Purdue Agriculture throughout the year," Lester said. "We set everything against a backdrop of fun to make it more interesting and more of an 'event' for our many volunteers." The fish fry is well-known for its entertainment. This year's theme is Buffalo Pete's Wild West Show. In typical fish-fry style, the theme will encompass a variety of unusual touches, such as trick riding, sharp shooting and fancy roping acts. "We have a theme around which we work gags and skits, and we always have a lot of topical humor, all planned for the sheer enjoyment and entertainment of our guests," Lester said. In addition, the audience will be serenaded with tunes from the Purdue Pep Band and vocalists from Purdue Musical Organizations, with a grand finale from the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. Not only will this year's fish fry provide entertainment, but it also will allow Purdue ag alumni and friends a chance to meet and interact with faculty and staff from the School of Agriculture. "When people walk away from the fish fry, we hope they remember that the faculty and staff at Purdue Agriculture are real, approachable people who truly appreciate the efforts that volunteers make on their behalf throughout the year," Lester said. The fish fry also will celebrate Purdue Agriculture's tradition of service as it bestows its oldest and most prestigious award, the Certificate of Distinction, on honorees selected for their outstanding service to agriculture. Last year, approximately 1,900 people attended the fish fry. Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost $12. They are available at all county offices of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, through all Purdue agricultural departments, or by calling the Purdue Ag Alumni Association at (765) 494-8593. Group discounts are available to parties of 10 or more, but the tickets must be purchased from the Ag Alumni office. Doors will open at 11:05 a.m., with the fish fry getting under way at 11:30 a.m. Free parking for both events will be available in the football parking lots, and shuttle vans will run continuously beginning at 8:15 a.m. Source: Donya Lester, (765) 494-8593; e-mail, dcl@agad.purdue.edu Writer: Jane Houin, (765) 494-2722; e-mail, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page