
From the Organizer
Lace up your running shoes and join us at the fairgrounds for a fun and meaningful 5K race supporting Agricultural Education! Set against the backdrop of open skies, barns, and show arenas, this event brings together runners, walkers, families, and community members to celebrate and invest in the future of agriculture.
🌱 About the Event
The Fairgrounds 5K is a community-centered race designed to raise funds for local agricultural education programs. Proceeds will support:
FFA and 4-H student leadership programs
Classroom resources and hands-on ag science labs
Youth livestock and crop education initiatives
🏃♂️ The Course
Participants will enjoy a scenic route winding through the fairgrounds, passing livestock barns, exhibit halls, and open fields. The course is mostly flat, making it perfect for:
Competitive runners aiming for a personal best
Casual joggers
Walkers and families with strollers
Clearly marked pathways and enthusiastic volunteers will guide participants along the route, with water stations positioned to keep everyone energized.
🎉 Race Day Highlights
Timed 5K race with awards for top finishers
Farm-fresh snacks
Music and a lively finish-line celebration
🌽 Why It Matters
Agricultural education shapes the next generation of farmers, scientists, business leaders, and innovators. By participating in this 5K, you’re not just running—you’re investing in hands-on learning opportunities that cultivate leadership, responsibility, and real-world skills.
Bring your family, invite your friends, and come experience a morning of fitness, fellowship, and farm pride. Together, we can help agriculture continue to grow strong for generations to come. 🌾
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
82°
Typical Low
63°
Chance of Rain
32%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Valparaiso Wtr Wks, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
34,377
as of 2023
Elevation
746 ft
Nearest Airport
GYY
Gary/Chicago International Airport · 20 mi
Major Hub
MDW
Chicago Midway International Airport · 41 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Hoofin' it for Ag 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
Coming Up
Valparaiso Extra Mile Youth Running Camp
Less than a mile away
Portage Extra Mile Youth Running Camp
8 miles away
2026 Midwest Region Classic
Less than a mile away
The EXMI One Mile Challenge
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Hoofin' it for Ag 5K
Aug 1, 2026