Support public engagement with veterinary medicine

Our Vision

After several years of discussion and planning, the Indiana Animal Health Foundation (IAHF) Board of Directors met on May 11, 2016, and approved moving forward with developing a fund-raising plan to build a veterinary building on the grounds of the Indiana State Fair (ISF) in Indianapolis. “Vet Plex” will provide a year-round facility for use by the IVMA/IAHF and the Indiana State Fair.

The purpose of the Vet Plex will be to bring attention to, and education about, the importance of veterinary medicine in the lives of all people. It will specifically relate to the profession’s essential role in the production of high-quality animal-based protein, advancing human health by advancing medical science, improving the human-animal bond, and improving the efficiency of animal agriculture through the highest level of animal wellness and care.

Vet Plex will be a part of the State Fair Farm at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This will be the next generation of agricultural education. The Indiana State Fair Farm will magnify the tremendous success of the State Fair and the wildly popular Little Hands on the Farm feature, as well as expand year-round educational opportunities. It has the potential to transform how Indiana thinks about food, agriculture, and our future by reaching countless more Hoosiers with an important message of impact. Complementing its creative and proven programs that present agricultural concepts in dynamic ways, the vision for State Fair Farm is to bring the farm to the city throughout the year. With more than a dozen immersive experiences for both children and adults, the Farm will connect them with science and agriculture through the food we eat and communicate the importance of agriculture in our lives.

This year-round facility will be host to the nearly 1 million attendees of the Indiana State Fair. Vet Plex will also be used as a center for outreach to the citizens of Indiana and specifically those underserved and underrepresented citizens who live in central Indiana, allowing for hands-on education. The bridging of animal health with human health will be a key focus of this direct education resulting in the improvement of the lives of the citizens of Indiana and visitors to Indianapolis.

Vet Plex is a project of the IAHF to further advance its organizational mission and purpose. The IAHF will act as the fundraising entity for Vet Plex, while the ISFC will serve as the project owner as this building will reside on the ISF campus and be the property of the ISFC on behalf of the citizens of Indiana.

As the IAHF is a recognized 501(c)(3) entity, it will be able to receive the donated funds for this project while offering those donating the tax benefits of their contributions.

Let’s Make a Difference

VetPlex will be the home for veterinary medicine education in Indiana, striving to achieve the following:

Create awareness and education about the importance of veterinary medicine in the lives of all Hoosiers
Present veterinary medicine’s essential role in protecting animal- based protein of the food chain
Showcase advancement of human health by advancing animal medical science
Encourage youth to pursue careers in science-based fields
Cultivate the powerful human-animal bond
Support the efficiency of animal agriculture through the highest level of animal wellness and care
VetPlex will be a center for outreach to the citizens of Indiana, and speci cally those underserved and underrepresented allowing for hands-on education

Goal

VetPlex serves as the connectivity of veterinary medicine and our everyday lives. As a showcase for the agricultural industry, ag health partners and the general public, VetPlex becomes the conduit for educational outreach through:

unique programming
education forums and exhibits created to feature animal wellness and health
learning displays that highlight the need and the importance of the
human & animal bond

Why

VetPlex will provide the landscape for educational opportunities to serve the citizens of Indiana throughout the year through:

A staging area with theatre style seating for veterinary medicine procedures
and educational opportunities
An open space to be developed as animal corrals during the Indiana State
Fair and for year-round applicable events, allowing for varying species of
animals to be featured
Outdoor space for human and animal integration.
Meeting and conference center space for veterinary medicine and
agricultural entities
Educational displays and interactive stations for student and public learning
and engagement.

Location

The Indiana State Fairgrounds is the hub of Midwest Agricultural entities, hosting more than 300 events throughout the year. During the annual Indiana State Fair in August, average attendance is over 850,000.

Land acreage potential for VetPlex is 1.25
Designed to be flexible and modular, the VetPlex facility will be a destination site for education programming, school field trips and events
VetPlex will reside on the ISFC campus and be the property of the Indiana State Fair Commission available for use on behalf of the citizens of Indiana.

Design

The VetPlex will consist of the following:

A 75’ X 112’ (8,400 sq ft) steel building with completely finished interior
Free-span exhibit space will approximately 40’ X 96’ (3,840 sq ft) allowing for a general public interaction exhibit space
Classroom space of an approximate 32’ X 112” (3,584 sq ft) section with seating up to 50
An entrance to the building equipped with a large animal entrance with observational area
Small animal pre-operative area and operating theater
Small animal kennel
Office space complete with staff lounge/restroom/shower and 3 overnight living spaces (specifically for annual Indiana State Fair educational staff)
An outside area that will include a 12’ deep porch on 3 sides (west, south and east)

Funding

The IAHF and the Indiana State Fair Commission are working to raise the funds needed for this exciting project. Donate today to make a difference. As a partner, your financial support will assist the Indiana Animal Health Foundation to promote the importance of veterinary medicine in the lives of all people.

The addition of the VetPlex on the State Fairgrounds & Event Center will further the Indiana State Fair Commission’s commitment and resources to agriculture education.

Cynthia Hoye

Executive Director
Indiana State Fair Commission

The addition of the VetPlex to the Indiana State Fair education programming will allow our College to expand educational programing thus offering more intense demonstrations and to engage Fairgoers in so many ways! What an exciting time to be a future veterinarian in Indiana.

Kimberly Lutz

President of the Purdue University Student Chapter AVMA

Veterinary medicine is a cornerstone of all aspects of animal agriculture, and the VetPlex offers an introspective and unprecedented view of animal wellness. I applaud IAHF for the vision to create a world class exhibit right here in Indiana.

Ted McKinney

Executive Director
Indiana Department of Agriculture

I am thrilled the IAHF has the foresight to launch this project! Scientific research has proven the strong bond between humans and animals, with pets a major component of a healthy family. Veterinary medicine is vital to so many aspects of our health.

Phil Borst, DVM

Shelby Street Animal Clinic

Donate Today!

This is critical at a time when the interest in public health, increasing the safety and e ciency of animal protein delivery, and animal wellness and care is at an all time high. Will you help us?

Still have questions? Call us at (317) 974-0888.