U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Perdue to visit Purdue campus

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be traveling to Purdue University on April 2 to meet with students, faculty and statewide agricultural industry leaders. Purdue President Mitch Daniels will host Perdue for a conversation open to the public from 9-10 a.m. in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall.

Perdue, a two-term former governor of Georgia, was born into a farming family. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine and was in private practice in North Carolina until returning to Georgia to serve as a member of the state senate. He was sworn in as 31st U.S. secretary of agriculture in April 2017.

During his visit, Perdue will meet with the College of Agriculture student leaders who have organized Hammer Down Hunger, an annual event in celebration of Ag Week, which this year will prepare 150,000 meals to be distributed throughout Central Indiana as well as abroad.

Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, invited Perdue to campus on behalf of the students in charge of the event.

“I am incredibly impressed and know the secretary will be as well by the student leaders who saw the opportunity to make this year’s Hammer Down Hunger such a significant event to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary and, most importantly, to make a difference in the lives of so many people,” Plaut said.

Media are welcome to attend the public event, which is one of many celebrating Purdue’s Sesquicentennial, 150 Years of Giant Leaps. The yearlong celebration is highlighting Purdue’s remarkable history of giant leaps, while focusing on what giant leaps Purdue can take to address the world’s problems.

Media contact: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu  

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