College of Agriculture
Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry to be hosted at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds
Join the College of Agriculture alumni at the 2025 Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry on Feb. 1 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 2025 Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry will take place Feb. 1 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette, Indiana. This year’s event will feature a program centered around the theme “People of Purdue Agriculture.” The highlight of the luncheon will be a panel discussion led by three young alumni who are making notable strides in the agricultural space.
This year, we are taking an exciting new approach to the fish fry. Our goal is to showcase the critical role individuals — such as faculty, staff, peers, alumni and others — play in shaping the student experience, and we’d like to highlight this perspective through the lens of young alumni." — Danica Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association
Kirkpatrick continued, “Enlisting Olivia West to host this panel discussion, the program will celebrate the unique and transformative experiences of Purdue Agriculture alumni while inspiring the audience with the success stories of young graduates and expressing gratitude to those who made those journeys possible.”
Olivia West, a 2021 graduate from Purdue’s College of Agriculture, serves as the in-game host for the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever and Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball League. She also has hosted numerous WNBA and NBA All-Star events. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, West works to create memorable moments that unite and empower communities.
The panel discussion will feature:
- Halee Fisher, a Purdue University 2023 graduate who holds dual degrees in agricultural economics and political science, with minors in international studies, global food and agriculture systems, and psychology, and has a public policy certificate. She currently serves as a legislative assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture under Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, working on policy related to agricultural research, horticulture, crop protection and biotechnology.
- Mark Gee, a five-time Boilermaker, has worked with NASA, the Mars Society and Purdue to advance space nutrition research. He is now with Beck’s Hybrids. Gee’s international experience spans India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France and the Netherlands, where he helped build sustainable food systems.
- Ryan D. Kornegay, who earned a master’s degree in Purdue’s agricultural sciences education and communications program, works as a biological science program specialist for the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the USDA. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Unity Environmental University. In November 2024, Kornegay was elected mayor of Greenville, Florida, where he is committed to using his experiences to improve his hometown.
The Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry is the annual homecoming of all things Indiana agriculture. Each year we hear from our attendees that they come to see old friends, hear about the exciting things happening in the college, and — of course — the great food.” — Danica Kirkpatrick
Before the panel and annual fish fry luncheon, attendees can explore Purdue Ag Avenue, an exhibit area featuring Purdue College of Agriculture departments and industry partners. Doors and exhibits will open at 9:30 a.m. EST, with the program beginning at 11 a.m.
For more information about the 2025 Ag Alumni Fish Fry or to purchase tickets, visit purdue.ag/fishfry or call the Purdue Ag Alumni office at 765-494-8593.
About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Media contact: Devyn Ashlea Raver, draver@purdue.edu
Sources: Danica Kirkpatrick, danica@purdue.edu, 765-494-8593
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415
