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FAIRs Care

The Indiana State Fair has partnered with the Indiana Association of Fairs (INAF) and Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIsH) to implement a FAIRs Care County Food Drive. The goal of FAIRs Care is to raise awareness of local hunger needs and help feed Hoosiers impacted by hunger needs. FAIRs Care taps the passion and ingenuity of county fairs to ensure impact is felt statewide.

THE FACTS

  • 1 in 6 Hoosier and more than 1 in 5 Hoosier children is at risk of hunger (22%)
  • More than 1.1 million people, including more than 319,800 children, receive emergency food each year through the member food banks of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.
  • 33% of food bank clients are children under the age of 18
  • 77% of food bank clients report having to choose between paying for food or paying their utilities/fuel bills.
  • Every $1 raised provides multiple meals

THE PROCESS

  • Develop and implement a food drive during your 2026 County Fair
  • Engage a local food bank to help organize the food drive and to ensure donation are utilized locally
  • Complete the FAIRs Care application on or before May 31. Approved county fairs will receive an allotment of 250 Indiana State Fair tickets to help incentivize donations. Tickets are valued at $18 each.
  • The only approved use of these tickets are in exchange for food or monetary donations to your food drive.
  • Upon the successful completion of the food drive and submission of a final report by July 31, 2026, the participating county fairs will be entered to win $200 to be put toward a future hunger initiative.
  • Please note, only one food drive per county is accepted for this program.

2026 Results

The FAIRs Care program collected 59,694 pounds of food and $25,568 for local food pantries! The top five counties that have made the most food contributions and will receive a check for $200 are:
  • Howard County Fair - collected 10,446 pounds of food and received $120 in donations
  • Fulton County 4-H Fair - collected 5,780 pounds of food and received $1,710 in donations
  • Clinton County & 4-H Fair - collected 4,851 pounds of food and received $550 in donations
  • Hamilton County 4-H Fair - collected 4,687 pounds of food and received $250 in donations
  • Wells County 4-H Fair - collected 4,544 pounds of food and received $21,400 in donations
Indiana State Fairgrounds Event Center

Indiana State Fairgrounds Event Center 1202 E. 38th St. Indianapolis, IN 46205

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