Honoring hard work, family farms

Agriculture makes an immense impact on so many Hoosier communities. From growing food that is shipped across the country to creating jobs that boost Indiana’s economy, farmers are a key part of our state’s success story.

To honor longstanding family farms, the Indiana Department of Agriculture recently bestowed the Hoosier Homestead award to a record 106 awardees. Given out twice a year in spring and summer ceremonies, this award recognizes the contributions of farms owned by the same family for 100, 150 or 200 consecutive years.

For this ceremony, four Indiana farms received the bicentennial award for 200 years of continuous ownership. In total, more than 6,100 farms received the designation of Hoosier Homestead since the award was created in 1976.

For more information on the Hoosier Homestead Award Program, visit in.gov/isda.

Congratulations to all of the Hoosier Homestead recipients and thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Inflation Relief Headed To Hoosier Taxpayers

Hoosiers should be on the lookout for an additional automatic taxpayer refund thanks to a new law approved by the Indiana General Assembly.

During the recent special session, Indiana House Republicans worked hard to do what’s right by taxpayers by providing inflation relief through another round of automatic taxpayer refunds.

Indiana’s single tax filers can expect $200, or $400 for a married couple filing jointly.

According to the Indiana Department of Revenue, direct deposits along with mailed checks will be sent out to Hoosiers starting mid-August. The Indiana auditor’s office can print 50,000 checks per day and is aiming to have all checks printed by early October. Hoosiers should allow until Nov. 1, 2022, to receive their refund.

This automatic taxpayer refund is separate from the $125 refund issued earlier this year. The state will issue a combined check for both refunds to taxpayers who were eligible for and have not yet received the initial $125 refund by direct deposit. Hoosiers on Social Security who did not qualify for the $125 taxpayer refund because they did not have to file a state tax return can still qualify for the $200 refund, if they file their tax return in calendar year 2023.

Unlike Washington, D.C., Indiana is responsibly using the state’s surplus, which experienced higher-than-anticipated revenue collections, to return $1 billion of taxpayer money. Moving forward, we’ll continue to work on ways to provide additional tax relief to Hoosiers.

For more information about the tax refunds headed to Hoosiers, visit in.gov/dor and scroll down to click on “Automatic Taxpayer Refunds.” To learn more about Senate Enrolled Act 2 (ss), click here.

Do Your Part To Keep Hoosier Students Safe

With the new school year starting for students across the state and school buses back on the road, be on the lookout for increased traffic and kids nears the roadways.

In one day alone in April, over 2,000 stop-arm violations were observed by school bus drivers around Indiana. To crack down on these and other speeding and reckless driving violations, state and local law enforcement are increasing patrols around bus stops and school zones.

Give yourself extra time to reach your destination and be patient around school bus stops. Indiana state law requires drivers to stop when a school bus has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. Failure to do so can result in a traffic ticket and suspended license.

Every driver needs to do their part to keep students safe. Here’s when you should stop:

Tips For Parents:

Make sure your students arrive early at the bus stop or have plenty of time to walk to school without rushing. Encourage your child to use the same route every day, go straight home after school and try to walk with other students. It’s also good to remind them not to talk to strangers, and if approached, maintain their distance and report the incident to a teacher or parent immediately. Students should also know to never get in a vehicle with anyone, even someone they know, without prior permission.

To all Hoosier students, families, teachers and school staff, I wish you all a successful, fun and safe school year.

Save On Family Fun At The Indiana State Fair

The Indiana State Fair is in full swing and this year’s theme is about “Celebrating Indiana’s Automotive Excellence,” recognizing the state’s contribution to automotive history worldwide. From deep-fried foods to 4-H projects, and from livestock to carnival rides, the fair has something for everyone to enjoy.

The fair runs through Aug. 21, and families can save on discount days. Check out this list of deals for fairgoers:

$3 Thursdays, Aug. 11 and 18
On Thursdays, fairgoers pay $3 for gate admission, midway rides and food options at each food stand.

Free IndyStar Ticket, Wednesday, Aug. 10
Buy a copy of the IndyStar on Aug. 8 for free admission on Aug. 10.

AAA Day, Wednesday, Aug. 17
AAA cardholders receive free admission with a valid AAA membership card presented at the gate.

Military and First Responders Day, Friday, Aug. 19
First responders, current military members, and veterans and their families get free admission with a valid ID presented at the gate.

The Free Stage will host a variety of musical acts, including Kansas and Jesse McCartney. All shows are free with paid fair admission. The Hoosier Lottery Grandstand will also feature a number of free and paid admission events, such as a hot air balloon race, and traditional events like the high school band and cheerleading competitions.

The fair will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays weekly, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. all other days. Click here for a complete list of events, exhibits, activities and more. Tickets are $10 online and available now.

For more information about the Indiana State Fair, visit indianastatefair.com.