The theme for the 2019 Indiana State Fair has been announced. The Fair theme this year, Heroes in the Heartland.

Throughout the 17-day event, slated for Aug. 2 -18, the Indiana State Fair will salute Hoosier farmers, first responders, educators, members of the Armed Forces, and many others.

The fair announced that attendance over the 17-day run that ended Sunday was 860,131, compared with 906,732 last year.

Purdue vets are on call 24/7 throughout the run of the fair. The most common ailment is respiratory disease or mild sprains.

Metal detectors were installed in the fairgrounds' Indiana Farmers Coliseum for the last Indy Fuel hockey season and organizers decided to expand them to the rest of the fairgrounds.

The Indiana State Fair will celebrate the state's circus heritage this year, featuring Big Top Circus with motorcycle riders, juggling, and ringmasters.

Indiana State Fair goers this year will be asked to " Step Right Up" to the greatest 17 days of summer.

A Purdue University exhibit at the Indiana State Fair shows visitors how sound helps scientists understand ecosystems.

Perdue met in private with state lawmakers about the 2018 Farm Bill and reassured Hoosier farmers he'd protect their stake in the export economy.

The fair, starting Friday, provides a nearly month-long showcase for Hoosier agriculture that hasn't changed as much over the years as the industry itself.