As part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 150th anniversary celebration, Chancellor Ronnie Green will host U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue for a public town hall discussion during the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island.

Open to fair attendees, the event is 11:30 a.m. Aug. 23 in the Raising Nebraska exhibit hall on the state fairgrounds. The building is the site of the Raising Nebraska exhibition, which highlights agriculture and agribusiness across the Cornhusker State. The exhibit is a joint effort of the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska State Fair.

Former two-term governor of Georgia, Perdue became the 31st agriculture secretary on April 25, 2017. Reared on a dairy and diversified row crop farm in rural Georgia, Perdue has been a farmer, agribusinessman, veterinarian and state lawmaker.

During the town hall, the secretary will take questions from farmers, agricultural stakeholders and others in the audience. He will be available for questions from reporters following the event.

The university and state fair both began in 1869. Perdue’s appearance is among a number of special state fair events in honor of the joint celebration. Others include an Aug. 24 lecture on Nebraska football history by Mike Babcock, and a Sept. 1 pep rally featuring the Cornhusker Marching Band and spirit squad. A Nifty 150 ice cream developed by the UNL Dairy Store will be available throughout the fair.