Published: July 09, 2008 11:20 pm      

Governor hams it up during tour of fair

Daniels enjoys a tenderloin, meets 4-H members

GREENTOWN — Kaylee O’Dell knew the job of Howard County 4-H Fair Queen is to serve as hostess for the fair.

She had no idea when she was crowned Tuesday that one of her first duties would be hosting Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

“It was such a good experience,” O’Dell, 18, said, during the governor’s visit to the fair. “It’s an amazing, wonderful experience. I’m still overwhelmed.”

Daniels arrived around noon and shared lunch in the Lions cafeteria with O’Dell and her court. He ate a breaded tenderloin and visited with the teen girls before they led him on a tour of the fairground, which included stops in the livestock barn, 4-H exhibit building, memorial wall and, of course, the food vendors.

Greentown Lions Club fair co-chairman Steve Winger said organizers found out Tuesday the governor wanted to see the fairground and to meet and greet people. Chairman Dennis Maple said Daniels specifically said he wanted to meet 4-H’ers while he was there.

Maple said he cannot remember another governor visiting the fair.

“I think it’s so impressive he stopped to spend time with the 4-H’ers.”

O’Dell and her court first escorted Daniels to the livestock pavilion, where he met 4-H and Lions officials and several 4-H’ers, then walked back into the barn to see the champion spot barrow shown by Danielle Stiner.

Daniels scratched the pig behind the ears, and it seemed to pose for the photographers accompanying him.

“I think he knows he won,” Daniels commented. “He is kind of a ham. I’ve rarely seen a pig show off like that.”

He also teased Stiner’s boyfriend, Evan Eikenberry, who won fewer awards than Stiner.

“She pretty much smoked you this year,” Daniels joked.

Eikenberry said he was pleased with the chance to meet the governor, and he didn’t have any questions in mind to ask him.

“I think my girlfriend took over that,” he said.

4-H’er Baxter Howell also showed Daniels his reserve grand champion gilt and barrow. He said the governor asked him several questions about the animals.

Sarah Conwell, a former 10-year 4-H member, also enjoyed meeting the governor.

“It’s good for the fair.”

Daniels walked through the barn holding the hand of 5-year-old Giovanni Ragland, after talking to him about kindergarten and testing the boy’s knowledge of the alphabet, and posed for pictures with 4-H’er Kelsey Keller and her pigs.

He also sampled fair food, including hawg wings presented by Mike Mauck from Mauck’s Meat Co.

Daniels called the pork “very good,” and questioned Mauck about how he prepared it. Mauck described the cooking process, but said he cannot reveal the secret behind his sauce.

“I can’t tell you anything about it or I’d have to kill you,” Mauck joked, and a woman’s voice could be heard scolding him from inside their trailer.

Daniels said he wouldn’t think of asking for the recipe.

“That would be like asking someone for the formula for Coca-Cola,” he said.

Daniels complimented fair planners, saying it is an excellent fair and “I’m an authority on fairs,” after nearly four years in office.

He said he doesn’t hear from a lot of people about their concerns for the state when he visits fairs, because “most folks go to a fair to forget about their concerns for a little while.”

He does hear from the agriculture community and said he anticipates “a potentially terrific year” for agriculture in Indiana because of increased corn prices. However, he said, he hears from pork producers that while the increased corn prices are great for corn producers, it’s hard for the pork producers to buy feed.

He’s also worried about farmers impacted by flooding in parts of Indiana, who have been washed out and won’t be able to participate in “what may be a banner year” for farmers.

Daniels did take a few moments to talk politics. For the November election, Daniels said he is focusing on running a positive campaign, while continuing to do his job as governor. He also thinks Indiana voters will vote for Republican John McCain in the presidential election.

If elected to a second term, Daniels plans to focus on taxpayer protection, strengthening schools and guaranteeing a post-secondary education for every Indiana high school graduate.

Although there are some concerns, Daniels anticipates a positive future for Indiana and its residents.

“Hoosiers are very resilient folks.”