Obama Administration Officials to Visit State Fairs this Summer and Fall to Address Issues Important to Rural Americans
Secretary Duncan to launch initiative Friday at Delaware State Fair
WASHINGTON, July 22, 2010- Building on the Administration’s commitment to address the concerns of rural Americans, members of the Obama Administration will attend various state fairs over the course of the summer and fall. Top Administration officials, including Cabinet Secretaries, will attend these state fairs to discuss the Administration’s ongoing efforts to support job creation, improve access to health care, and enhance the quality of rural education and how communities, states and the federal government can better work together to help strengthen rural America. This summer’s initiative follows on the Administration’s Rural Tour and Rural Summit. The first visit will happen on Friday when Education Secretary Arne Duncan attends the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Delaware.
The Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that America's rural communities are vibrant and thriving economically. The Administration made an unprecedented commitment to this revitalization with the Recovery Act, which provided $53 billion to rural America with both short-term relief and long-term success in mind. The Administration is also taking steps by investing in teachers, supporting rural colleges, and by updating rural infrastructure like roads, police stations, libraries, health clinics and community centers And the Administration is bringing quality jobs to rural America with investments in broadband internet and renewable energy production, and by expanding access to credit. Furthermore, the Administration has made major investments in the farm safety net, provided emergency support to struggling dairy farmers, and opened important international markets to American
agricultural products.
At the Delaware State Fair tomorrow, Secretary Duncan will meet with Future Farmer of America students who will demonstrate how to showan animal, tour a student agricultural projects exhibit by 4-H, a youth organization administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and join Senator Thomas Carper to present awards to student winners of the Health Foods Contest. Congressman Michael Castle is also expected to attend the fair. The Delaware State Fair attracts more than 300,000 attendees annually and maintains its roots in agriculture. The fair started in the 1920s with an aim to promote and encourage agriculture and support the needs of residents in the state’s rural communities.
Details about other state fair visits by Administration officials will be made available later.
| WHO: |
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
U.S. Senator Thomas Carper |
| WHAT: |
Tour of Student Agricultural Projects and Health Foods Contest Awards Presentation at Delaware State Fair |
| WHEN: |
Friday, July 23, 2:50 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. EDT |
| WHERE: |
Delaware State Fair
18500 S. Dupont Highway
Harrington, Del. |
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