Purdue News
Purdue News
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January 7, 1999 Ag Fish Fry 'Racing Into the Millennium'WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Ag Alumni Association will be "Racing Into the Millennium" as well as celebrating its 105 anniversary at its annual meeting, the Purdue Ag Fish Fry, on Friday, Jan. 21. This year's theme is a salute to fast cars and the men who drive them. "Hoosiers love auto racing, and NASCAR is currently the hottest racing ticket," said Donya Lester, executive secretary of the Ag Alumni Association. "The bigger-than-life personalities of NASCAR racing are perfect material for fish fry skits and spoofs." The "gates" open at 11:05 a.m., and the green flag drops at 11:30 a.m. in the Purdue Armory. In addition to the traditional irreverent fun, officials have arranged for a NASCAR race car to be on display as well as NASCAR simulators in which state and local officials will race against each other. The event also will feature the inaugural launching of the Purdue Ag Alumni radio-controlled mini-blimp, which is and five and a half feet long. "The mini-blimp will help add to the atmosphere of the racing theme," Lester said. "We thought the mini-blimp would be a fun way to draw attention to the Purdue Ag Alumni Association at events such the fish fry, Farm Progress Show and SpringFest." The Ag Alumni Association also will present its highest honor, the Certificate of Distinction, to 15 honorees selected for dedicated service to agriculture. A special tribute is planned for Purdue President Steven Beering, who is scheduled to retire this summer. The fish fry program will also include performances by the Purdue Band and members of the Purdue Musical Organizations, including the Varsity Glee Club. The "official fuel" of the fish fry will be breaded pork tenderloins donated by Indiana Packers Corp. in Delphi, Ind. To draw attention to low prices faced by many Indiana hog farmers, the Ag Alumni Association broke a 50-year tradition and served pork loins in 1999. Because the change was so well received, this year's planning committee decided to keep pork on menu. According to Lester, the annual meeting known as the fish fry started in 1927, serving chicken and noodles to the 200 in attendance. Nowadays, the fish fry draws a crowd of 1,800 to 2,000, with more than 300 volunteer workers. Tickets for the fish fry are $12 each and must be purchased in advance. They are available at all Purdue Cooperative Extension Service county offices or through the Ag Alumni office. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. For more information, contact the Ag Alumni Association at (765) 494-8593. Source: Donya Lester, (765) 494-8594 Writer: Tim Hoskins, (765) 494-8396, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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