By Stan Maddux

INDIANAPOLIS— The spotlight on Indiana agriculture is even brighter from adding breweries and distilleries using ingredients like sweet corn to a list of trails.

The newly created Indiana Grown Distillery Trail features 18 makers of craft spirits like whiskey, vodka and gin. “We want to remind people not only is it agriculture, it’s agritourism,” said Heather Tallman, program director for Indiana Grown.

Indiana Grown is a program of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office to help farmers and makers of agriculture related products sell more of their goods.

Lt. Governor Suzanne Couch said the trail announced February 6 is another tool to capitalize and further the growth of agritourism n the state. “Our hope is that Hoosiers and more broadly all Americans will realize the quality products Indiana has to offer to those near and far.”

Destinations on the trail include the Old 55 Distillery, Indiana’s only sweet corn distillery in Newtown about 20 miles west of Lafayette. The distillery owned by Jeffrey Fruits grows its own sweet corn for making products, like 80 proof sweet corn bourbon.

Other distilleries on the trail include Hotel Tango, an Indianapolis distillery offering bourbon, rye whiskey, wild rum and other hard beverages like cherry liqueur. The name of the distillery owned by military veteran Travis Barnes was inspired by his time in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Also launched Jan. 30 was the Indiana Grown Brewery Trail featuring 21 craft beer makers using local ingredients across the state.

The first Indiana Grown Wine Trail created in May of 2018 has grown from 31 to more than 50 wineries. “We are proud that our wine trail has become the largest in the Midwest and the overwhelming positive response we have received from members and consumers has our entire team working to meet the demand for more of these trails,” Tallman said.

Tallman also stated that not every maker of craft alcoholic beverages in the state are represented on the trails. They can be added, though, by simply becoming a member of Indiana Grown at no cost. To qualify, members have to offer products raised, processed or packaged in the state. “That’s all it takes. We want this to be very easy and for them to be ready when consumers come in because they’re coming in,” she said. Applications can be obtained at www.indianagrown.org or by reaching Tallman at 317-697-5863 for an application to be sent in the mail.

People visiting all of the sites on the winery trail receive an Indiana Grown wine bottle stopper and an Indiana Grown bottle opener for completing the distillery and brewery trails.

Indiana Grown has also developed a number of other guides including maps of Christmas tree farms, winter farmers’ markets and a Protein Guide listing producers selling proteins directly to consumers.

Tallman said formal announcements will be coming in March and April on new trails for makers of cider and meads along with maple syrup and honey.

“These are people who are growing edible products just like field corn, sweet corn and soybeans and everything else.  It just looks different,” she said.