Jake Teshka Representative | District 7

 Submit your Indiana agricultural photo

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is accepting submissions for the 18th annual Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest. The contest is open to all Indiana residents and honors the hard work and contributions of Hoosier farmers as well as showcases the state's natural beauty.

Hoosiers are encouraged to submit photos reflecting the wide array of agriculture in our state. Photo entries will be accepted under the following categories:

• On the Farm: Showcasing any building, piece of equipment or activity that is a part of life on an Indiana farm.
• Faces of Agriculture: Featuring those who grow and produce food, fuel and fiber in Indiana.
• Agritourism: Spotlighting Indiana’s seasonal and agricultural destinations, such as orchards, wineries and farmers markets.
• Conservation: Highlighting Indiana’s natural beauty with landscapes, water and wildlife.

In all, 10 winners will be selected: two from each category and two overall. Winners will be invited to attend a special ceremony at the Indiana State Fair, where they will be recognized and receive certificates from Lt. Gov. Beckwith and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb. The winners will also have their photographs featured in the offices of the Lt. Governor’s Family of Business in Indianapolis throughout the year.

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Hoosier contestants can submit up to five photos in digital format with a submission form for each photo. Photos will be evaluated based on creativity, composition and category representation. Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on June 30.

Click here for entry forms, guidelines and criteria. Good luck to the contestants and thank you for highlighting Indiana agriculture.

Farmers markets open for the season As spring transitions into summer, communities across Indiana are once again welcoming back a favorite seasonal tradition, our local farmers markets. These markets not only offer fresh, locally grown produce and handmade goods, but also support Indiana’s hardworking farmers, artisans and small businesses.  

Indiana is home to more than 200 farmers markets, providing Hoosiers with direct access to healthy food and the chance to support local agriculture. Whether you're shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meats, plants or homemade crafts, there's no better way to invest in our communities and our economy.

Indiana Grown is a network of local farmers and producers helping connect consumers like you to Hoosier-made products. Look for the Indiana Grown label on products when you visit grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores. You can also visit IndianaGrown.org and search for members and products near you.

Here are a few other helpful resources:  

• Indiana Grown – Learn about locally produced goods and how to support Hoosier farmers.
• Indiana Farmers Market Community of Practice – Find a local farmers market. Resources for markets, farmers and consumers.
• Purdue Extension – Offers support and education for growers, consumers and small food businesses.

Many markets now accept SNAP and WIC benefits, and thanks to programs like Double Up Indiana, qualifying families can double the value of their SNAP dollars when purchasing fresh produce at participating markets.Learn More
Prefer to have your food delivered? Indiana-based Market Wagon is an online delivery service where you can connect with local food vendors and artisans and purchases can be delivered directly to you or a specified Market Host. No membership or minimum purchase is required. LocalFarmMarkets.org is another source for finding local food producers broken down by region and county.

Whether you're a longtime supporter or a first-time visitor, I encourage you to check out your local market and take part in the vibrant local food movement. It’s a great way to stay connected to your neighbors, support our farmers and enjoy the best of what Indiana has to offer.

Expanding support for foster families

According to a report by Sevita, there are over 11,000 Hoosier children available for adoption but only 4,500 foster homes currently available. To encourage more Hoosier families to open their homes to these children, a new law I supported will make foster parent households eligible for Child Care and Development Fund assistance, regardless of the number of biological children in the home, if they meet income eligibility requirements.

CCDF is a federal program to help low-income families pay for child care so parents can work or attend school and training.  

Expanding CCDF eligibility will ease the financial burden of child care and allow more foster parents to provide a stable and loving environment for children in need of their care.  

Additionally, the law requires the Family and Social Services Administration to hold 200 CCDF vouchers in reserve specifically for children placed with licensed foster parents. This provision ensures that there are enough resources available to support foster children as they transition into loving homes.   

Thank you for your continued support as we work to expand resources for foster families and ensure every child in Indiana has the chance to grow up in a stable, loving environment. To learn more about HEA 1248 and other new laws signed by the governor, click here.

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This law is possible thanks to various leaders and stakeholders working together to find and remove outdated requirements and increase clarity in our education laws. It's my hope that by reducing red tape, schools will be able to focus more on providing the best education possible for their students, being responsive to their community and innovating to better meet students' needs.

Click here to learn more about this and other new laws passed during the 2025 legislative session.

 Remembering our fallen Hoosiers

This Memorial Day weekend, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We reflect on the cost of freedom and remember what it means to protect and serve.

To pause and honor the Americans who gave their lives for freedom, I encourage everyone to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I join my fellow Hoosiers on this day to remember all the freedoms that we have thanks to the sacrifice that these heroes made.

[Click here for Memorial Day safety tips offered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.]

Overhauling Indiana's K-12 regulations

Did you know Title 20 in Indiana Code, which deals with education, is nearly equal to the length of the entire J.R.R. Tolkien "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? That's over 435,000 words of policy and regulation that schools must sift through to comply with state statute.

That's why House Republicans prioritized a new law to streamline our education regulations, reduce red tape and empower local schools with more control over education decisions.

House Enrolled Act 1002, which I co-authored, reduces Indiana's education code by nearly 10 percent. This includes eliminating "may" provisions on actions schools can already do without state permission, unused funding programs and inactive commissions, specific mandates enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and duplicate code. The law also empowers schools to control certain training and professional development for their teachers and staff.

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This law is possible thanks to various leaders and stakeholders working together to find and remove outdated requirements and increase clarity in our education laws. It's my hope that by reducing red tape, schools will be able to focus more on providing the best education possible for their students, being responsive to their community and innovating to better meet students' needs.

Click here to learn more about this and other new laws passed during the 2025 legislative session.

Indiana House Republicans deliver on key priorities for Hoosiers

At the start of the 2025 legislative session, Indiana House Republicans set out to tackle several priorities aimed at protecting taxpayers, empowering Hoosiers and making government more efficient.

As session concluded, these priority efforts made it across the finish line to improve the lives of Hoosiers and keep our state moving forward.

A key achievement this session was delivering tax relief to hardworking Hoosiers by cutting income taxes over the next two years and advancing property tax relief and reform. Together, these two tax cuts will save Hoosiers $1.3 billion in taxes over the next two years.

Additionally, the following House Republican priority bills advanced through the House and Senate:

• House Enrolled Act 1001: Enacting an honestly balanced, two-year state budget that reduces government spending, strengthens our commitment to education and public safety, and protects taxpayers.
• House Enrolled Act 1002: Reducing regulations on K-12 schools to increase flexibility and give local communities more control over education decisions.
• House Enrolled Act 1003: Lowering health care costs for Hoosiers by improving transparency and predictability in pricing and billing and giving patients more control over their treatment options.
• House Enrolled Act 1004: Ensuring nonprofit hospitals act as nonprofit entities focused on delivering health care.
• House Enrolled Act 1005: Improving access to housing by expanding the Residential Housing Infrastructure Assistance Program (RIF) and streamlining the regulatory process for housing development.
• House Enrolled Act 1006: Strengthening public safety by creating a review board to investigate prosecutors who refuse to enforce our laws.
• House Enrolled Act 1007: Meeting the needs of today's energy economy while reducing costs for Hoosiers.
• House Enrolled Act 1008: Welcoming Illinois counties that have voted to secede from their state to join us in Indiana.

Learn MoreAs your state representative, it has been a privilege to serve you this session, and I look forward to continuing to work on your behalf to strengthen our community and state. To see the full list of bills that have passed through both the House and Senate and are now heading to the governor’s desk for final approval, click here.