December 3, 2004
NBC commentator Tim Russert to speak at Purdue Ag Fish Fry
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Tim Russert, the popular moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press" television program, will be the guest speaker when the Purdue University Agricultural Alumni Fish Fry returns to Indianapolis on Feb. 12.
For the second consecutive year, the event will take place in the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds from11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Certainly, we were concerned with our decision to move the event away from campus to the Indiana State Fairgrounds," said Donya Lester, executive secretary of Purdue's Agricultural Alumni Association. "But we had the largest crowd in the history of the event last year at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion. Bringing the Fish Fry back to Indianapolis was an easy decision to make, especially since we had such overwhelmingly positive feedback from so many of our guests. And when you add an entertaining speaker like Tim Russert into the mix, I think our guests are in for another great event."
Russert has received 33 honorary doctorate degrees from American colleges and universities. He is a political analyst for "NBC Nightly News" and the "Today" program. He anchors "The Tim Russert Show," a weekly interview program on CNBC and is a contributing anchor for MSNBC. Russert also serves as senior vice president and Washington bureau chief of NBC News.
Russert follows the husband and wife political team of James Carville and Mary Matalin, who were guest speakers at last year's Fish Fry.
"Our Fish Fry audience is politically astute as well as politically active," Lester said. "Russert has interviewed all of the policy-makers who impact their lives and careers. And he is a good fit with our audience. I think many of our alumni will feel a certain kinship with Russert."
If time permits, Lester said Russert will take questions from the audience.
Tickets for the event are $20 and must be purchased in advance. To order tickets, contact the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association at (765) 494-8593 or via e-mail at debby@purdue.edu.
A printable ticket order form is available online.
Child care is available during the Fish Fry, but reservations are required. Reserved parking also is available for $5 and $10 and must be purchased in advance.
The Fish Fry will follow the Agriculture Forecast, which will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Edy's Grand Hall.
The forecast speaker is Charles F. Conner, special assistant to the president for agricultural trade and food assistance. He will focus primarily on Farm Bill issues. Conner, a native of Otterbein, Ind., is a 1980 Purdue Agriculture graduate and was named to his White House post in 2001.
Admission to the forecast is free and open to the public, and the event will conclude in time for participants to attend the Fish Fry.
Writer: Tom Campbell, (765) 494-8084
Source: Donya Lester, (765) 494-8593, lesterd@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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