February 2013 Farm Indiana by HNE Media Magazines

February 2013 | Section A

Will Swope sits on the first tractor he ever drove, a John Deere 8440. BELOW: Will and his father, Matt, walk on the family farm, where Matt grew up in the 1970s.

FAMILY FARMS

| story By brenda showalter // photos by josh marshall |

he Swope family considers its farming enterprise a small operation by today’s standards, but 22-year-old Will Swope hopes he can expand on the current 400 acres he works with his father, Matt Swope, in northwestern Bartholomew County. Someday, Will would like to fulfill his dream of working full time as a farmer, a passion that first attracted him at a young age. “I remember getting off of the school bus and hopping on the tractor,” he says. “I knew right then that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Will remembers conversations with his high school guidance counselor about possible career paths, and he always came back to an unwavering desire to be a farmer. Will’s mother, Kim, admires her son’s determination to follow in the family footsteps that also included Matt’s father and stepmother, Joe and Roxann Swope, and Matt’s mother and stepfather, Nancy and Ed Hoeltke. Matt also is the great-great-grandson of M.O. Reeves, one of the Reeves brothers in Bartholomew County who founded and operated Reeves Pulley Co. and

Reeves and Co., which made farm implements. “The farming tradition goes all the way back to them,” says Joe Swope, who spent some time farming, but also owned the former Columbus Industries Inc., a manufacturing company.

Extra Hours

Kim and Matt acknowledge the growing number of farms that span thousands of acres, but they still see a place for the family farm and hope they can continue. “It’s very competitive for young people today,” says Kim, who did not grow up on a farm but has learned to love the life. “Now I can’t imagine anything else.” Matt and Kim, married for 26 years, make their home in a rural area not far from Edinburgh Premium Outlets. Within about 5 miles of their home, Matt and Will farm the 400 acres, mostly of corn, soybeans, wheat and green beans. Work has to be done primarily in the late afternoons, evenings and weekends because they both have other fulltime jobs. Matt is an equipment operator for Case Construction in Columbus, and Will works at Columbus Silgas Farm Services in Taylorsville. Kim, an execu-

tive assistant at First Financial Bank in Columbus, also helps shuttle 15-year-old daughter, Hadlee, a Columbus East High School sophomore, to many of her activities, including FFA, 4-H, dance, swimming and tennis. On their own farm, Matt and Will have to work plenty of extra hours, making use of the headlights on the farm equipment after

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the swopes Family: Father, Matt; mother, Kim; son, Will; daughter, Hadlee Farm: 400 acres in northwestern Bartholomew County Crops: Mostly corn, soybeans, green beans and wheat

Farm Indiana // february 2013

swope // cont. from A1

dark and relying on Kim to help with such duties as accounting and bookkeeping.

Up to the Challenge

The family enjoys the farm life so much they are eager to pass along that love and respect for the career to youths involved in local 4-H programs. Hadlee has been a 4-H member for seven years, with one of her favorite projects raising and showing pigs at the fair. “I spend time walking and feeding them and keeping the pen clean,” she says. But 4-H also is about being part of a group and having fun. “It taught me how to raise an animal, but I also made a lot of new friends,” she adds. The Swopes see camaraderie among the youths and adults in the farming community but also find it can be difficult for a young man like Will to break into the career dominated by longtime farmers and big corporations. But Will says he’s up to the challenge. A graduate of Columbus North High School, he went to Vincennes University, where he earned a degree in agribusiness, learning many skills that would help prepare him for a farming career. “I’d like to see us be able to keep farming thriving for the next generations,” he says. One of Will’s biggest challenges has been trying to save money so he can purchase quality farmland, which recently has been fetching a higher price than many farmers can pay and still turn a profit. For now, he is living at home with his parents and saving his money. Although last summer’s drought ate into the profits of most farmers in southern Indiana, Matt says one of the positives has been the high prices for crops. But all farmers are dealing with rising costs in other areas, such as equipment and fertilizer. Will says he eventually would like to provide better irrigation to the fields so he won’t have to worry as much about

dry weather. He also wants to incorporate more technology, including a yield mapping system, and to better manage crops and be good stewards of the land, he says, through regular rotation. It’s always a balancing act, the Swopes say, to make wise use of your resources but still produce a profit. Will plans to keep working with his dad, so someday, he hopes, he can be counted as one of those longtime Bartholomew County farmers. “It gets in your blood,” he says. *FI

LEFT: Will spent his senior year of high school restoring this 1966 John Deere 4020 tractor with his father, Matt. BOTTOM: A grinding stone that was a part of an old mill located on the farm was found in the nearby river in the early 1970s and placed in the front yard of the family's farm home.

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

EDITOR'S NOTE

Good Things are Growing As I write this, we’re experiencing the coldest days of winter. The weather application on my smartphone tells me it is 21 degrees outside, but it feels a little more like 12 degrees. And yesterday morning, when I wrapped myself in six layers of clothes and trudged out the door to head to an early-morning meeting, it was even colder. Brrrrrr. The good news is I warmed right up when I walked into that conference room yesterday morning. Surrounding me were approximately one dozen key players in the agricultural industry from several of Indiana’s eastern counties. A few folks from Home News Enterprises, along with myself, were meeting with these movers and shakers to discuss our plans for starting a Farm Indiana “east” edition. And, boy, were their responses to our plans both warm and welcoming. That’s exactly how the reactions to the south-central version of Farm Indiana have been, too. When the movers and shakers around our own offices dove into the ag world by producing this new publication, they had no idea what to expect. What has transpired has far exceeded their expectations. Since its inception, Farm Indiana has grown in both interest and page count. This issue, we’re publishing our largest edition — 32 pages — to date, and it just keeps growing. In the short time I have been involved, I’ve realized just how much news there is to cover. Each new day brings story suggestions, possible sources and information about changes in science and technology to my inbox. At times, it’s a little overwhelming. And it’s exciting. The good news here is that there are limitless relevant and local stories to be told, and we’re here to do it. If nothing else keeps me warm this winter, knowing that little fact will. All around me — despite the freezing temperatures outside — great things are growing.

February 2013 Farm Indiana

A1 A4 A7 A9 A12 A14

Swope Family Farm L&M Glick Seed Burcham Family New Ventures Midway Farm and Orchard Extension Educators

B1 B3 B4 B6 B8 B11 B14 B15

Whispering Pines Alpacas Farm Briefs Brad and Amanda Briggs National Farm Machinery Show Shirk’s International Berkemeier Farm Student Profiles Calendar of Events

Comments, story ideas and suggestions should be sent to Sherri Lynn Dugger, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201, call (812) 379-5608 or email farmindiana@hnenewspapers.com. For advertising information, call (812) 379-5690.

OMISSION: In the box on page B5 of the January issue of Farm Indiana, the oldest great-grandchild of Henry Bush, Christopher Kiel, was omitted. Farm Indiana apologizes for the oversight.

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

PHOtos by jennifer cecil

Brett Glick, left, and his brother, Trevor.

Fourth-generation farmers, Glick brothers test their products on their own land | story By Jeff Tryon |

ocal company L&M Glick Seed offers farmers hybrids and varieties focused on the traits and genetics that work in southeastern and central Indiana and across the greater Ohio River Valley area. That’s because the owners, Brett and Trevor Glick, are themselves fourth-generation Bartholomew County farmers who put their products to the test on their own acreage. “We select the varieties and the hybrids that work well,” Brett says, “we don’t just look at test blocks.”

Seeds of Change

Glick concentrates on the trifecta of corn, soybeans and wheat, Brett says. For soybeans and wheat, “we go out and buy strains, and then we expand them,” he explains. To get seed corn, the brothers contract growers in southern Indiana. Brett says the seed business has seen a great deal of change over the four generations his family has farmed, and he sums up that change with two words: “Better genetics.” These genetics are “constantly improving the beans and corn,” he says. “As bad as this year was, if we had still had the same varieties and hybrids we had 20 years ago, it would have been worse.” In 2012, early planting weather was good, and wet conditions prevailed in May and June. But that was followed in late summer by hot days and nights with little rain, which led to a rapid, early harvest. “Genetics are getting a lot better, a lot more resistant” to such conditions, Brett says. “They can take a lot more stress.” —Brett Glick

“We select the varieties and the hybrids that work well. We don’t just look at test blocks.”

A privately held company, Glick has less corporate interference in what strains it buys—and sells. “We do all the selecting ourselves, where a lot of seed dealers, they’re kind of told what varieties and hybrids to sell,” he says. “We get to pick and choose, and we go out and grow them. We’re more independent than the vast majority of other seed companies you’ll find.” He also says Glick has access to a wider range of genetics than most other companies, and, as farmers, they can tell customers how a variety or hybrid performs in full-scale production, where it counts. “The fact is no hybrid is right for everyone everywhere,” according to the company’s website. “We have chosen the hybrids that are working here on our farms. We stress not only yield and standability but also the health requirements of the greater Ohio Valley area.”

A Family Affair

Brett and Trevor grew up in farming and in the seed company established by patriarch D.E. “Elmer” Glick and the brothers’ great-grandfather, Lloyd Glick, in the 1880s. The original farm is still part of the land holdings the family farms today in Bartholomew County. “My great-grandfather, Lloyd, was a schoolteacher in a oneroom schoolhouse,” Brett says. “He went off to war, but he was only in the war about 60 days before it was over. He came back, See glick on A6 >>

Farm Indiana // february 2013

The Grass is Always Greener Grass-fed or locally raised beef is regularly praised as the meat to eat | story By Jennifer m. willhite | Columbus-area customers who are allergic to commercially grown beef, which often includes trace amounts of antibiotics, seek the offerings of Brothers Beef for health reasons, as much as taste. Brett and Trevor Glick, who own L&M Glick Seed, also own Brothers Beef, the only grass-fed beef operation in Bartholomew County. Raised around cattle farming, the brothers began their operation in 2007 to offer all natural, grass-fed beef from Angus cattle. For the Glicks, starting their business had as much to do with exercising the right to raise cattle in ethical and humane ways as it did with providing diversity in the local supply of beef. Generally born during February and March, the calves stay with their mothers until December when they’re weaned. During their time on the farm, the cattle experience consistency that extends beyond diet. “They’re with the same group pretty much their whole lives,” says Brett. “They’re on pasture. Except for the worst of weather, they see us every day so they’re not surprised by us.” The Glicks have to balance the diets according to each cow’s stage of growth. When cattle are young, they require higher protein intake than their adult counterparts. Prior to harvesting, they need foliage with higher sugar content to “get more finished muscle and fat,” Trevor says. And sometimes the cows get sick. If a cow’s health warrants antibiotics, it is given antibiotics, Trevor says. “We won’t let them suffer if there is a medication that could help them.” But the use of antibiotics immediately disqualifies the animal from being sold. If the animal receives medicine, he explains, it is removed and kept for use by the family. Brothers Beef, (812) 343-8119, (812) 371-5532, www.brothersbeef.com

PHOto by andrew laker

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

Trevor, left, and Brett Glick

glick // cont. from a4

but his job was gone. So he decided to expand his seed business, and that’s when it really took off.” Brett says that although growing up in the family business, “you always know something about it,” he hadn’t really planned on going into it until fate intervened. “I graduated from college in 2004, and I went out to Colorado for a while. But then my father passed away in an accident, and I came back to the farm, and my brother

and I are now running it,” he says. And as to whether the Glick farm and the attendant seed company pass into the fifth generation, only time will tell. Brett doesn’t have any children; his brother has three. “If they (Trevor’s children) choose to come back to the farm, we will welcome them,” Brett says. “If they choose not to, well, I’m not going to force anyone into a profession. This is a lifestyle, not just a job. You have to love it.” *FI

For more on L&M Glick Seed, visit glickseed.com. For more on Brothers Beef, visit brothersbeef.com.

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

FAMILY FARMS

Room on the Farm The Burcham family diversifies to keep its traditions going | story & photos By marcia walker |

ayne Burcham spreads out papers on a table in the small, neat office that serves as headquarters for his family’s farming operation, which today encompasses ground split almost evenly between Jackson and Washington counties, divided by the winding Muscatatuck River. The office, once part of a complex of buildings that made up a feed mill, is located on a quiet, dead-end road in the tiny town of Vallonia. But the area wasn’t always so quiet, Wayne says, explaining that this part of the community was once the hub of rural Jackson County. In addition to the mill, which at one time was thriving with activity, there was a busy railroad depot here, which linked the county with the rest of the state and the country. The depot “was the center of the community,” Wayne explains. “They didn’t have interstates. Everything went by rail.” The depot is long gone; the only indication now that the community was once more than a sleepy hamlet is the mill, which the Burchams purchased from Jackson-Jennings Co-op in 2001. The mill has “helped our farm operation,” Wayne says. Its buildings allow for a workshop, as well as space for storing grains and chemicals.

Traces of history

(from left) Wayne and Mary Lou Burcham, John and Kara Burcham, Jeremy Burcham and Chad Burcham.

When Wayne Burcham talks about his family’s farm, he traces a list of names and dates from the Burcham side of his family tree. Wayne studies numbers, which date back to the 1700s, trying to determine just when the first Burchams arrived in what was to become Jackson County. It’s confusing, he explains, partly because dates overlap and also because there are so many Burchams named John. (Wayne’s grandfather was one.)

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

LEFT: Brothers Jeremy, John and Chad Burcham, with Elvis. BELOW: The Burchams purchased a feed mill in 2001.

Wayne and his wife, Mary Lou, carried on that family tradition by also naming their first-born son John, who arrived 13 minutes ahead of his twin brother, Jeremy. The twins are now 26. Wayne’s finger stops on the name Samuel. Around 1810, he says, Samuel Burcham built a fort along what is today State Road 235. “As far as I know, the Burchams have been farming in Vallonia all the way back to Samuel,” he says. Wayne is proud of his family heritage, on both sides of his family tree. His mother was a Hess, another family that has lived in the Vallonia area for generations. While each generation made a living through farming, the crops that have been raised have changed, dictated in part by changes in technology and market demand. Through the years, the Burchams and Hesses raised hogs, mules, cattle, watermelon, corn, hay and sheep. At one time, Wayne says, his family operated the largest breeding and feeding operation for sheep in a three-state area. Wayne’s grandfather, John, moved away for a while to earn a living by delivering coal with a team of mules and a wagon, a job comparable to being a truck driver today. “He hated that job,” Wayne

says. “He wanted to get back to farming.” John Burcham did later return to Vallonia and to farming, after losing his first wife and their baby during childbirth. John and his brother later established Burcham Brothers Produce, raising watermelon and sweet corn. John Burcham eventually remarried and signed a note to cover the costs of a house, only to lose the house and belongings in a fire. “Grandpa carried out the china cabinet, the front door and the dog,” Wayne says. Wayne and Mary Lou still have the cabinet in Family: Wayne and Mary Lou Burcham, John and Kara the house where they now Burcham, Jeremy Burcham, Chad Burcham live, which was built by his grandfather in 1921. Farm: 1,000 acres of corn, 950 acres of beans, 150 acres of hay, 25 head of Angus cattle The Hess side of Wayne’s family tree offers its own

>> The Burchams

share of stories. John Hess, Wayne’s maternal grandfather, was a mule trader. “He dealt in very expensive mules,” Wayne says. “He built the round barn, which used to stand on State Road 135 south of Vallonia, as a showroom.”

Carrying on traditions

Wayne and Mary Lou’s children are carrying on the family traditions. Wayne, who has twice suffered ruptured disks, has turned the physical labor of operating the farm over to his sons. “The boys do the labor for me,” he says. “I do the management. Now, they are stepping into the management part.” The boys started out hands-on. As teenagers, they launched a business that involved raising and selling sweet corn. The first year, they planted half an acre; at its peak, the sweet corn patch encompassed 10 acres. At age 12, their youngest son, Chad, obtained a bank loan for $15,000, cosigned by his father. The two drove to the stockyards in Little York, where Wayne says he went to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee while Chad went to the auction

ring to purchase cattle. Chad also established a lawn mowing business as a teenager. While all three are committed to the family farm, the sons also realize that to support everyone, they need to diversify. Each has carved out his own niche. John, who has a degree in ag business from Western Kentucky University, owns a trucking business. He also sells seed for Wyffel Hybrid. His wife, Kara, a regional marketing representative for a tax company, still finds time in the spring and fall to help run the farm. “I can drive any equipment same as they (her husband and brothers-in-law) can,” she says. “Anything they can do, I can do better.” John and his twin brother, Jeremy, who also attended Western Kentucky before switching to Vincennes for training as a diesel mechanic, also rent a tenant farm. Jeremy, who enjoys fixing stuff, purchased three combines, which he put back into operating condition, and offers custom harvesting. Chad is now finishing his education at Western Kentucky University, and he operates a cow/calf operation, manages the pasture part of the farm operation and is also a livestock judge for the university. All three brothers are involved with the newest venture, Burcham Farm Service, which offers mechanical services on lawn mowers, combines and “everything in between,” Chad says. Each effort is focused on one goal, Wayne says. “We all want to be on the farm,” he explains. “It’s something we all want, to have room on the farm for all of us.” *FI

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PHOto by jennifer cecil

Carol and Jim Daily

Today’s farmers understand that keeping a steady stream of income might require more than traditional methods of the past

drought, flood, recession or political uncertainty, as well as local business conditions, all can affect a farmer’s bottom line. That’s why more farmers are looking at new ventures to boost their incomes. Roy Ballard, a Purdue University extension educator in Hancock County, advises Indiana farmers on looking for new avenues for revenue. “I get about one call a day from farmers who are excited about an idea,” says Ballard, who serves as the state’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education coordinator. “When money is tight, people want to try new ventures.” Ballard says the search for new ways to add income to the farm budget frequently comes up when a family member wants to join the operation. This might be a wife or someone who has left another job, or a son or daughter who has recently graduated from college. Although the process can be driven by financial need, the desire to expand the farm enterprise in a new direction also

can be a creative one that reaps financial rewards. “They can find something they are excited about doing,” Ballard says. “People have lots of imagination.” Some examples he has heard of in recent years have included producing goat cheese, making fiber products from alpaca wool, selling specialty grains, such as flax seed and buckwheat, or marketing a range of artisan crafts. Other farmers have grown Christmas trees, started apple orchards, begun herb farms, opened bed-and-breakfast lodgings and even constructed zip lines on their properties.

Market watch

For some, the solution is simply to fill more months with money-making opportunities. Many farmers sell fresh produce in the summer and fall, but Jim and Carol Daily decided to open a market in Bartholomew County that would be open all year. Previously, they had sold vegetables at a small stand near

| story By brenda showalter |

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

3 1. Jim Daily pets a calf at his Columbus farm. 2. Cattle at the Daily farm. PHOtos by Jennifer Cecil 3. Fruits and vegetables fill the table at Hackman's Farm Market. PHOto by Joel philippsen

Second and State streets in the summer and at area farmers markets, but in 2010, they purchased a former convenience store/gas station property on Jonathan Moore Pike to sell their products year-round. “Over the years, farming has had its ups and downs,” says Jim, who farms with his sons, Ben, 23, and Evan, 20. The Dailys also have two daughters, Kristin, 27, and Kelsey, 26, although they don’t participate in the daily farm operations. “This allows for a more steady income flow,” says Ben. Now, with a temperature-controlled facility, the family can sell fruits and vegetables in the warm months and offer other items during the winter and spring. Jim and his sons farm 2,500 acres in Bartholomew County, but he says their market has made their goods more

visible than ever to area residents. The Dailys sell a range of fresh grocery items, plus freezer beef, mainly custom-ordered quarters and halves, but also some smaller portion-size packages as available. They also sell an assortment of oven-fresh goodies made in the market’s kitchen. Breads, pies, cakes, cookies and ready-to-heatand-serve items such as chili, lasagna, pot pie and meatloaf await customers. “There have been other farm markets around here, but nothing on a year-round basis like this,” Jim says.

Tour de fruit

Another longtime Bartholomew County farming family, the Hackmans have learned about the benefits and enjoyment of “agritourism” activities. They operate a farm market through the summer and the fall where they sell fresh produce and

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A11

PHOtos by andrew laker

Peering through a refractometer, David Simmons measures the sugar content of chardonel grapes at the Simmons Winery vineyard. INSET: Simmons holds a cluster of St. Vincent grapes.

about the farm, many will want to come back and bring their parents.

Off the vine

flowers, but John Hackman now also takes about 2,500 schoolchildren on educational tours of his farm each fall. Classes, from preschool to about fifth grade, can come to the farm to learn about animals at a petting zoo, to see pumpkins grown in a patch, to walk through a corn maze and to take a wagon ride. Hackman charges a small fee for each child, who leaves with a pint-sized pumpkin. Although not a big moneymaker, he figures by teaching children

Brenda and David Simmons of Hope had a multiyear plan that included expanding their farming operation in many directions. David grew up in a farming family in the Hope area, and Brenda says he still loves going out in the fields each spring to plant corn and soybeans. David and Brenda, a former math teacher, continued to raise their traditional farm crops and operated a summer farmers market to sell the produce for years before they decided to start growing grapes in 1997. Eventually, they opened a winery and banquet hall where they could host weddings and special events, and this year they opened a restaurant and brewery at the same location on Road 450N. “The way to really make it is to diversify,” says Brenda, adding that their success has allowed them to have their two children work with them full time. She believes looking for new ways to grow a farming business is necessary in today’s economy. “My gut feeling is you have to do this to survive.” *FI

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

FAMILY FARMS

The Past’s Presence One family celebrates the history of its small Franklin farm

| story by ryan trares // photos by josh marshall |

ll along the grounds of Midway Farm and Orchard, the weight of the past is evident. The weathered timbers of a 150-year-old barn sag but stand as a testament to the farm’s longevity. Gnarled apple trees, some planted more than a century ago, still produce fruit every year. Gardens of cabbage, tomatoes and cucumbers line the stately white farmhouse. Bill and Linda Sabo, and Linda’s sons, Hugh and David Vandivier, have maintained nearly 200 years of agricultural tradition in their small farm outside Franklin. Midway Farm and Orchard, founded in 1822, was one of the first homesteads in Johnson County. During the winter months, the farm is in hibernation. Fruit trees in the small backyard victory garden are covered in plastic to protect the limbs. The remnants of last

A richly colored Indiana sunset fills the sky as snow blankets the farmland that has been in the family for nearly 200 years. ABOVE: A photo of who is believed to be the original owner of the property. OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM LEFT: Bill and Linda Sabo stand in front of her family home. A submitted photo of the farm during summer. A look inside the home.

season’s vegetables poke through the snow and ice. Across the 55 acres surrounding the property, the remaining stubble of cornstalks dots the land. The family doesn’t work the farm fields anymore. Each year, they rent the land to local farmers to plow, plant and tend seed corn and soybeans. During warmer weather, Bill and Linda plant about an acre of vegetables in a wide plot to the south of the house. Tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots are carefully tended in rows throughout the garden. Recently, they planted apple and peach trees to go along with the longtime orchard of persimmon trees, Linda says. Midway Farm and Orchard was originally established by the early settlers of Johnson County. An old white barn — thick, roughhewn timber supports and

planks — was built in 1860. The farmhouse, with its tiled cupola and white porch, has been standing since 1903. A white wooden sign, which the family erected to let passersby know the history, stands in front of the home, giving some of the important dates from the farm’s founding. Using land-ownership records and historical documents, they’ve been able to pinpoint the founding of the farm to Aug. 5, 1822. Since that time, ownership has changed hands to different families, but it has been run most recently by four generations of Vandiviers. “From the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Vandiviers were one of the main families of Franklin,” Hugh says. “This is our connection to that time.”

Growing up on the farm

Farm life helped shape the Vandivier children — Hugh

Farm Indiana // february 2013

midway farm and orchard Owners: Linda and Bill Sabo; farmland is managed by Linda’s sons, Hugh and David Vandivier. Founded: 1822 // Crops: Seed corn and soybeans Notable dates: Aug. 5, 1822: Midway Farm was established in Franklin Township. 1860: Construction on the farm’s barn was finished. 1903: Construction of the farmhouse.

“From the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Vandiviers were one of the main families of Franklin. This is our connection to that time.” —hugh vandivier

and David, as well as their sister, M.J. Metzinger. Though they mostly raised row crops, there was a brief time when the family raised sheep and cattle. One of Hugh’s earliest memories is accidentally leaving a fence gate open. “My father was running all over the barn lot, trying to catch these sheep and get them back into their enclosure,” he recalls. “We didn’t really have livestock after that.” Living out in the country, the Vandivier children relied on each other and their surroundings for entertainment. In the spring and summer, once their farm chores were finished, they were shepherded outdoors and left to explore, Linda says. Sometimes they’d play in the woods or the barn. “It might not have been the safest, but it was a fun adventure as far as hide-and-seek,” Hugh says.

During the blizzard of 1978, the kids created a system of snow tunnels all over their property. Together with their Siberian husky, Nome, they’d crawl through their naturally insulated passageways. Bill and Linda are the only ones still living at Midway Farm. Hugh lives nearby in Indianapolis, where he works as a writer and an editor. Since he’s the closest, he often helps his mother and stepfather with some of the upkeep of the land. The fact that the farm has remained in the Vandivier family for the past four generations is a point of pride, one that they hope continues for generations more. Even as the family spreads out, it provides a home base for their heritage and history. “You feel like you’re still connected to it,” Hugh says, “even if you don’t live there anymore.” *FI

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

Learning by Extension Local educators help connect the dots for urban and rural residents | story by barney quick |

hen Bartholomew County Extension educator Mike Ferree retired at the end of 2012, a big hole was left in his absence—one that hasn’t yet been filled. As Columbus, the county seat, had grown, he had a hand in helping the city accommodate its surrounding farm population. “I coordinated a series of meetings on land-use topics,” he says. Ferree also served on the Bartholomew County Parks and Recreation Board and the county’s Plan Commission. Overall, he served as a much-needed liaison between Bartholomew County’s urban and rural residents. Through daily use of social media, videoconferencing and emails, Ferree was in constant communication with locals, helping to answer their questions and support their everchanging needs. Extension Services of the

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ABOVE: Bartholomew County Extension educator Mike Ferree, who retired at the end of 2012. The republic file photo BELOW: Albert Armand drives a tractor on his Decatur County farm during last year's soybean planting. photo by angela jackson

U.S. Department of Agriculture like these are available in each state to help educate and support residents in nearly every aspect of their lives — from agriculture and food to environment, community economic development and more. “There are a lot of Extension functions you don’t often think about,” says Albert Armand, a farmer in Decatur County. “A lot of people don’t

realize what kinds of information are available through it.” Decatur’s Extension educator Daniel Wilson, for instance, has helped bring new crops to his county, Armand says. He also cites Wilson’s role in organizing the county’s farmers market, as well as his personal assistance in figuring a yield estimate for insurance purposes in a field of Armand’s that had suffered

crop damage. “Big operators have seed sales reps who come around to consult,” Armand says. For smaller producers, he explains, support only comes from Extension Services. Educators like Wilson can serve as great resources for homeowners, as well, by answering questions about local insects or even making “recommendations about the grass

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

ABOVE: A farm in eastern Bartholomew County. photo by andrew laker BELOW: Albert Armand installs a GPS system on his tractor to help determine its location during planting. photo by angela jackson

in your yard,” Armand says. While several counties in the south-central region currently have openings for educators, Extension personnel are staffing offices there. According to Extension interim director Jim Mintert, at any given time there are between five and 10 openings for Extension educator positions in the region. It typically takes about six months to fill the

adds. “Some areas are very row crop-focused; in others, livestock is more important. In urban areas, we look for people with knowledge of horticultural issues.” Amanda Dickson, who assumed the dual role of educator and 4-H coordinator for Brown County in late 2012, sees her role as that of a “good listener” who can “read between the lines.” Her first

“A lot of people don’t realize what kinds of information are available through (Extension functions).” —albert armand

positions, he says. “That’s really not a long time when you’re trying to get someone with the qualifications we want and put them in a rural setting,” he says. Educators are required to have both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, with at least one of those degrees in an agriculture-related field. Finding the right educator is a matter of matching skill sets to communities. “We can provide resources to help them build those skill sets,” Mintert says. “The first thing I tell new staff members is to get to know their communities,” he

task was to size up Brown County’s agricultural identity, which she characterizes as small acreage (10 acres or less) and primarily livestockbased. Brown County, she says, ranks in the state’s top third for poultry production, and it ranks high for land value, due to the impact of its tourism industry. Dickson, an Oklahoma native with an academic background in agricultural economics, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, and she says she has seen a number of parallels in her volunteer work and her professional career. Much of her

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time as an Extension educator is spent consulting with her constituents on practical matters of land development. “I get calls all the time about weed identification and eradication,” she says. “I get tree questions, such as why bark is falling off, or why

leaves are getting spots. I also get wildlife questions, such as how to keep animals away from gardens.” Occasionally her economics expertise comes into play, like when she recently fielded a question about how to charge rent on 16 acres of farmland.

Clearly, though Extension is a statewide system, its services are by no means of a one-size-fits-all nature. “Our mission is to deliver programs targeted to the needs of the individual community,” Mintert says. *FI

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February 2013 | Section B

PHOtos by aaron ferguson

Bill Schnackel poses with one of his alpacas. BOTTOM: Schnackel feeds supplemental nutrients to his herd.

FAMILY FARMS

| story By Jeff Tryon |

Owners of Whispering Pines Alpacas lead high-fiber life

hen Bill and Guna Schnackel arrived at the edge of an early retirement, they knew they wanted to move from Chicago to the “picturesque” hills of Brown County. Bill says he also knew he and Guna were “a little young for the rocking chair.” Now the owners and proprietors of Whispering Pines Alpacas and Specialty Gifts near Nashville, the Schnackels found their new calling after a chance encounter with alpacas. “We had heard about alpacas, and we went to a program up north where five farms all got together to talk about it,” he said, during an interview at his hill-top wooded farmstead off Salt Creek Road. “It (rais-

ing alpacas) sounded like fun.” So the Schnackels began working toward a new life as livestock farmers — fiber farmers, actually. While llamas are used as pack animals, the more delicate alpacas are strictly used for their fiber, which is finer than the hair of its larger cousin. Alpacas are predominantly from Peru and Chile, but most of Whispering Pines’ alpacas are multicolored Chileans. “They come in 22 natural colors,” Bill says. “When they show, they show in 16 color groups. Some people will breed for all black, or all white; they just want a specific color. We’ve enjoyed the multi (colored animals).” See alpacas on b2 >>

Farm Indiana // february 2013

alpacas // cont. from B1

“We like Brown County. It’s very picturesque. We like being out here, but not completely isolated.” —guna Schnackel

He says they were surprised recently when an all-white female and an all-black male produced a multicolored alpaca, which they named “Mia.” “Genetics is a funny thing,” he says.

Country time

The Schnackels actually bought a couple of alpacas in 2005, a year before acquiring their dream property in Brown County. “We like Brown County,” says Guna. “It’s very picturesque. We like being out here, but not completely isolated.” Bill says he’s found the attitude of country folk refreshing as compared to the big city. “One thing I enjoy about Brown County is the quality of people here,” he says. “When we were building, and people said they would be there on Tuesday, they were there on Tuesday. Their prices were extremely fair. “We came from Chicago where it was just, ‘Make as much money as you can any way you can,’” he says. “Here it was more like, ‘As long as I can put a roof over my head, food on the table and gas in the car, I’m comfortable.’ “That was really refreshing.”

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

alpacas // cont.

| By Ken Salkeld, Jennings County ANR Extension educator |

Use the Web to Grow Your Business Social media has become an exciting way to enhance a farm or food business’s marketing activities, allowing the owner or manager to connect directly with customers in new and meaningful ways. Often, it’s these connections or relationships that make a business successful over the long run. Penn State Extension is partnering with Ohio State Extension and the University of Nebraska Extension to offer the Social Media & Mobile Technology for Ag Businesses webinar series to help small business owners understand how to integrate social media and mobile applications into the company’s marketing plan. Social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc.) offer easy methods to communicate, connect and engage with customers and the public. Mobile tools, operated from a smartphone or tablet (such as an iPad), offer many other options to both businesses and customers to find and connect with businesses, increase ease of transactions and more.

Webinar participants will gain a better understanding of social media and mobile tools, and more importantly, learn how these tools can improve their marketing effectiveness and customer service. Topics in the series include mobile usage and payment technology, an introduction to LinkedIn and Pinterest, mobile and location-based marketing, social media analysis tools for Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and more. The Social Media & Mobile Technology for Ag Businesses webinar series began in January and offers different topics weekly until March 7. Webinars are one hour in length and begin at 2 p.m. Pricing for the webinar series is $10

per webinar. This fee provides access to chosen webinars and recordings of the webinar(s) that participants can view again after the initial webinar. To register for the webinar series, please visit agsci.psu. edu/social-media-mobile-tech.

Alpaca fiber and yarn are for sale through the Whispering Pines website, as well as toys, gifts, clothes, scarves and socks made from the animals’ fur. For more information, visit WhisperingPinesAlpacas-Indiana.com.

PHOtos by jeff tryon

ABOVE: The Schnackels also have a specialty gift shop.

2013 Regional Pesticide Exam Schedule If you have let your Indiana Private Pesticide License lapse, you may retake the test and become eligible to have a pesticide license again. The Pesticide Core, Pesticide Fumigation exam and/or the Category 14 Fertilizer Certification exams for private applicators can be taken. Training is not offered at these locations. Exams can be taken anytime between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. Advance registration is required. If interested, please call (765) 496-7499 to register.

Beef 101 Class to Take Place Beef 101 is a four-part workshop series geared toward all beef producers, large or small, beginning or experienced. The course will provide beef producers with research-based information they can utilize in their operations to improve the quality of the beef herd and increase the productivity and profitability of the beef operation. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in up to eight hours of training and discussion on a variety of beef

production topics. Topics will be led by Purdue Extension specialists, Extension educators and local beef production experts, and each session will include adequate time for questions and answers. Participants will also receive a reference binder, handouts, Purdue Forage Field Guide, grazing stick and NCBA references. The cost of the course is $25 per person. Contact the Dearborn County Extension Office at (812) 9261189 before Feb. 22 to sign up.

Despite the couple’s careful planning, Whispering Pines didn’t unfold exactly as expected. What came as a surprise was the amount of work that would be necessary in maintaining the farm. “By now, we figured we’d be doing our own spinning and knitting and weaving,” he explains. “I don’t think I anticipated what all would be involved.” “There’s always cleaning and getting hay and all those things,” Guna says. “It adds up.” PHOto by jennifer cecil

Trevor Glick bottle feeds a newborn calf.

Census Deadline The leading source of facts and figures about American agriculture, the Census of Agriculture provides a detailed picture of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. For the 2012 Census of Agriculture, forms were mailed out in December, and farmers and ranchers are asked to respond by mail or online by Feb. 4. The 2012 Census of Agriculture will collect information concerning all areas of farming and ranching operations, including production expenses, market value of products and operator characteristics. Census data is used to make decisions about many things that directly impact farmers, including community planning, availability of loans, location and staffing of service centers and more. Participation in the census is required by law, which also protects the confidentiality of all individual responses. For more information, go to www.agcensus.usda.gov/About_the_Census/index.php.

Indiana Small Farm Conference The Indiana Small Farm Conference (Hendricks County Fairgrounds, March 1 and 2) will provide small farmers with opportunities to learn and interact with other farmers, producers, Extension educators, researchers and students. There will be sessions about crop production, livestock production, processing and marketing produce and goods, energy, and small farm management. For details or to register, visit www.ag.purdue. edu/smallfarms.

boys and girls

The Whispering Pines herd now numbers 14, down from a high of 21 alpacas. “We never thought we’d have more than 10, because my business plan called for a nice distribution of two girls for every boy,” Bill says. “We’re about even now, because the last two batches have been three girls and a boy. All of the animals we have now except the two older females and the herd sire were born here.” The alpacas are sheared in the spring, usually May. “We have someone come and shear them because it has to be done right,” Bill says. “Then we send the fiber either to the co-op or out to be processed.” The really “nice stuff,” Bill says, is turned into sweaters and scarves. The coarser fibers become rugs or “stuff that doesn’t touch the skin.” Guna says approximately 80 percent to 90 percent of people who raise alpacas have never raised livestock at all. “They’re not a large animal like a cow or a horse,” she says. “Anybody can handle them. You don’t need to have a lot of land.” And, she says, they’re mild-tempered animals. “For the most part, they’re sweethearts.” But taking care of alpacas in hilly country is a different life from the administrative career Bill left behind. “Farming is physical,” he says. “There’s pounding fence posts and moving hay; there’s just stuff all the time.” The alpacas, he says, “just love running up and down these hills, but for us, when we’re down there working on the property, it’s a long way back up.” *FI

Farm Indiana // february 2013

FAMILY FARMS

>> the briggses Family: Brad and Amanda Briggs; son, Michael Farm: 10 acres with hay, meat goats and a garden, 15 brood does, two ducks, 19 kids and counting

Farm Indiana // february 2013

| story by marcia walker photos courtesy of indiana farm bureau |

One Jennings County couple divide their time between the classroom and the farm

manda and Brad Briggs raise goats, grow hay and maintain a large garden on their 10 acres just south of Dupont near the Jennings/Jefferson county line. But what is perhaps their most important crop can be found in their classrooms at Madison Consolidated and Jennings County high schools. That’s where the Briggses are making an impact on future generations of farmers. Amanda is an ag teacher and FFA adviser at Madison, while Brad holds the same positions at Jennings County High. Amanda began teaching in 2003; Brad stepped into the classroom in 2004. For Amanda, teaching was a goal she set for herself early in life. “I always wanted to be a teacher, even when I was little,” she says. “I got in FFA in high school — so I put the two together.” Brad admits to being a little less certain about teaching as a career, although both his mother and grandmother were teachers. At first, he contemplated a degree in ag engineering. But he felt opportunities in that specialized field would be limited. His teaching

compromised on meat goats. They are more like cattle. I was a beef guy.” The gentle animals are also easier for their son, Michael, who is closing in on his fourth birthday, to handle. “They’re pretty safe,” Amanda says. “He can go out there and love them, hug them and wrestle with the baby goats.” The Briggses have two bucks, 15 brood does and on the winter morning of this interview, 19 babies, with one more doe expected to deliver any day. Breeding is timed so delivery occurs in December and January because many of the goats will be sold to 4-H members to raise as 4-H projects. For the past five years, Brad says, goats that got their start in life on the Briggs farm have taken both grand champion and reserve grand champion (in the division for wethers) at the Jennings County Fair. “We try to help them (4-H members) out,” Brad says. “If they have questions or want us to come look at the goats, we try to help them.” The Briggses admit it can be a challenge

Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture award, offered by Farm Bureau. The award is offered to farmers ages 18 to 35; Brad is 32, Amanda, 31. The contest included a lengthy application process, which involved making a presentation in front of the selection committee as well as receiving a visit from a Farm Bureau representative. Although the Briggses didn’t win, they made it into the top three finalist positions. As runnersup, they were awarded a plaque and $1,000. As far as their futures, Brad and Amanda both indicated uncertainty about whether they will remain in the classroom. Though they both enjoy teaching, new demands being placed on teachers, like being required to document their abilities to teach, may force them to move on eventually.

degree offers flexibility, he explains, noting that there are other opportunities for employment should he decide to leave the classroom. “It’s a multipurpose degree,” he says.

The Briggses, Amanda, left, and Brad, right, both teach at local high schools.

Roots in the soil

Both Amanda and Brad have farming backgrounds. Amanda grew up on a farm in Jefferson County. “We had beef cattle, dairy goats, hay and tobacco,” Amanda says. Brad was raised on a dairy farm in Switzerland County; his family eventually switched to beef and also raised hay and tobacco. The two were both involved with 4-H and FFA. They met as district officers when they were seniors in high school. Later, they rode back and forth together to Purdue University, where both obtained teaching degrees. The couple’s decision to raise meat goats was the result of a compromise. Amanda was already hooked on raising dairy goats, but that didn’t appeal to Brad. “When she got me into it, it was dairy goats,” Brad says. “I couldn’t stand those things. We

meeting the demands of teaching and of being FFA advisers, which frequently requires many hours spent on activities outside the regular school day, along with maintaining their farm. The two also serve as goat superintendents at the Jefferson County Fair. They belong to the Indiana Association of Ag Educators; Brad is involved with Jennings County Farm Bureau and Amanda with Jefferson County Farm Bureau. During the summer months, Amanda raises a large garden, canning some of her produce and giving away much of it.

Exhibiting excellence

Amanda believes that documentation is already in place by virtue of her degree. “Let me teach and I’ll be happy; make me fill out paperwork to justify what I’m doing—it takes away from the kids, and I won’t stay there,” she says. “Just let me teach.” The two are certain, however, that agriculture in some form will always be a part of their plans. Mostly because they want the farm life to be available to their young son. “Our 10 acres is enough to give him the experience of farming,” Amanda says. “It’s the way we were raised. We want to raise him the same way.” *FI

Amanda and Brad were recent finalists in a

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

ight as well start thinking about taking that hard-earned, midwinter break from rebuilding silos, repairing equipment or keeping the livestock warm. Sneak off the reservation for a few days Feb. 13 through 16 to the 48th annual National Farm Machinery Show at the

Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville for the country’s largest indoor ag show. Though the new product listing and final exhibitor list were still in the making at press time, exhibit space is sold out, and that’s saying something since organizers expanded show space for 2013. “We reconfigured our lobby space to accommodate more exhibitors for this year,” said Amanda Storment, vice president of media and public relations for the Kentucky State Fair Board, which owns and operates the show. “We’ll have an additional 15,500 square feet of space this year.” That’s on top of the 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibitor space already in place that accommodated more than 800 exhibitors last year, showing items from the latest in heavy ag machinery to interactive displays and new products

ranging from computer software and electronics to irrigation and breeder services. There will also be free seminars and television tapings throughout the show on a variety of topics, from improved growing methods to cuttingedge marketing trends

allowing you to maximize the margins. Eight interconnected exhibit halls keep the entire affair under roof, and Storment said a copy of the 2013 show guide and floor map is available to help visitors navigate the exhibits with the least amount of wasted effort. “Or you can just start at the south wing court and work your way through since it’s all under one roof,” she said. Either way, there’s plenty to see and do, including the show’s family living center that features gifts and crafts for the home, antiques and toys for the kids. Last year, over 300,000 attended the show, and organizers are bracing for a

similar crowd this year. Hotels and accommodations are plentiful around Louisville, but if you’re of a mind to bring the family camper, RV overnighting with electricity is

available for $50 nightly on the west side of the expo grounds near Gate 2. Also returning this year for its 45th turn is the

annual Championship Tractor Pull, which draws groundpounding monster machines and drivers from all over the

National Farm Machinery Show offers the country’s largest indoor ag experience | story by jim mayfield |

If You Go: What: National Farm Machinery Show When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Feb. 13 to 16 Where: Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville Admission: Free; parking $8 Contact: NFM show hotline: (502) 367-5004; Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau: (502) 584-2121 or (800) 626-5646

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

PHOtos by scott henderson, national farm machinery show

Many large pieces of farm equipment will be on hand for viewing. RIGHT: In addition to machinery, crop-growing and cultivating displays are available.

country for some heavy hauling at Freedom Hall on the exposition center grounds. This ain’t your father’s Massey, Vern. These are some bad boys and girls competing in a dozen classes with some serious horsepower under foot, boasting names like “Rock Hard Ram,” “Wampus Cat” and “Git Er Dun Deere.” Once again, the CTP big guns will vie for a piece of the $250,000 purse, each evening for about three hours beginning at 7:30, Wednesday through Saturday, with a 1 p.m. matinee scheduled for Saturday as well. “Tickets are selling well,” Storment said. “There will probably

be tickets available for Wednesday and Thursday, but Saturday will most likely sell out.” All tractor pull seating is reserved, with ticket prices ranging from $35 to $45. In addition to packing some sturdy earplugs, Storment urged anyone interested in seeing the beasts in action Saturday to call the expo ticket office early at (502) 367-5000. Go ahead, take a few days away from your catalog-sized to-do list and off-season regi men, get down to Louisville and ease up for a while. For more information, visit the show’s website at www.farmmachineryshow.org. *FI

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

shirks profile

Shirk’s International has kept the wheels turning for six decades

A long time ago, a young-buck farmer’s son left the flat row-cropping fields of Decatur County to see the world. And Charles Shirk got himself quite a view. “I trained as a top turret gunner and aerial engineer on B-17s,” Shirk said recently at the offices of Greensburg’s Shirk’s International, a business he’s run in one incarnation or another since 1951. The turnover rate for bomber crews flying over Hitler’s Europe was high, to put it genteelly, but fortunately for Shirk there was a long line of top turret trainees ahead of him, and Berlin fell before he had the opportunity to view the European land from 30,000 feet. With the war in Europe over, the Pacific still loomed, but Shirk continued to fly the wings of

starting a successful venture that has adapted and flourished with the times. As the face of south central Indiana agriculture changed, more small family farm operations were giving way to the larger corporate spreads. Shirk let go of his implement business at the close of 1986, and the company became an International truck franchisee, concentrating on truck sales and service. The decimation of small farming in the region forced implement dealers to scratch for more business in a shrinking market, Shirk said, and the company needed to change directions. “We got out of the implement business because there

Charles Shirk

| story by jim mayfield // Photos by josh marshall |

was just too much competition,” he said. “And now many if not most of those folks are gone.” In 1987, the company was renamed to Shirk’s International, and with further acquisitions over the next 10 years, the business would become the only International truck dealership in southeast Indiana and the largest trucking concern in the region, including international sales. Shirk’s son-in-law, Steve Freeman, left the world of banking and finance 20 years ago to come on board, and as president of the firm, is now working to keep the company vibrant in an ever-changing business climate.

Shirk’s International focuses on four core businesses: new medium and heavy truck sales, used trucks, a complete parts department and service. The company also controls a truck rental and leasing subsidiary. When the company purchased Hull’s Truck and Trailer from John Hull in 1997, the acquisition presented a unique opportunity to offer additional services to its clients. “When we expanded, we acquired a number of additional employees that we had to accommodate,” Freeman said. “That allowed us to expand to a second shift (in the service and parts departments), which does a lot for our customers.” With the shop open

good fortune. “I got on the list for B-29s and went to Florida for training about the time Harry (Truman) dropped the bomb, so I went fishing instead.” Armed with his discharge papers, Shirk returned home in 1946, and in 1951 became a silent partner with Glenn Weston selling Minneapolis-Moline farm machinery and DeLaval dairy equipment in Greensburg. In 1962, Shirk bought Weston’s interest in the business and formed Shirk’s Tree City Supply Inc., becoming an International Harvester Co. dealer, carrying farm equipment and trucks and

“We got out of the implement business because there was just too much competition. And now many if not most of those folks are gone.” —charles shirk

Farm Indiana // february 2013

from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., the service department can tackle big truck problems more efficiently and provide evening service and maintenance to get the rigs back on the road the next morning, Freeman said. Though the company has expanded significantly from its original building erected in 1951 to over seven acres, the growth has been slow and steady, following a conservative business model. Shirk’s has been able to expand and adapt without leveraging the firm, and “we run things over in our minds a long time before we do things,” Freeman said. “A long time” is another of the company’s keys to success. There’s a considerable lineage of corporate knowledge and continuity roaming the grounds. “I’ve been here for 20 years, our service manager has been here for over 35 years, our parts manager has been here for 22 years and our office manager has been here for 15 years,” Freeman said. And that’s not counting the boss, who has seen it all since 1951. “The other thing is we’re not emotional about the business,” Freeman said. “We’ve pretty much been doing the same thing since the early ’50s.” When things start spiking, Shirk’s keeps its corporate head, follows the same business model that has worked over the years, adapts when necessary and just keeps on pedaling. See shirk on b10 >>

TOP: President Steve Freeman. LEFT: Charles Shirk still gets a smile on his face when he sits in his 1925 International 6-Speed Special farm truck.

B10

Farm Indiana // february 2013

shirk // cont. from B9

“There was some concern a few years back about whether or not we might get swallowed up when International began consolidating its franchisees,” Freeman said. “Charlie said, ‘Let’s just wait it out. A new group of managers will probably come in, and it will be all right.”’ And so it was. Another

TOP: President Steve Freeman. MIDDLE: Owner Charles Shirk. BOTTOM: Roy Hadler, left, and Clark Martin in the parts department.

good call in a line of many. As for the future, the company will have to remain lean and nimble. The market for big trucks is challenging, and government-imposed emission standards on diesel have driven up new truck prices dramatically. The changing culture is also challenging, Freeman said. It’s not as easy as it once was to find new blood with a love for heavy lubricants and big trucks to turn the wrenches back in the shop. But Shirk’s has been

watching change for over 50 years, making the right adjustments, and business is good. “There’s no reason for us to move,” Freeman said. The patriarch agrees. “I should be on a fancy boat in Florida, but I like it here,” Shirk said. Sitting in a small Greensburg conference room that’s been his domain on Lincoln Street for over a half-century, Shirk seems content that his business is in good hands and pragmatic about where things are going. “I’m 90 years old. I probably won’t have to worry about the future in another 10 years,” Shirk said. The statement comes with a wry smile and keen look to see if his audience gets the back story. After surviving the big bombers and more years in business than some folks live, it’s a fair bet that one, at least, begins to get a handle on the big picture. “When I’m gone, they’ll probably never miss me,” he said. *FI

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B11

FAMILY FARMS

For the Fisse family, farming is more than a way of life.

It’s a necessity.

| story by jim mayfield // Photos by josh marshall |

n 1855, the first bridge over the Mississippi River was opened near what is now Minneapolis, Isaac Singer patented his first sewing machine motor and a little-known Seminole Indian chief named Billy Bowlegs began raising havoc with the local peacekeepers for a third time down in Florida. At about that same time, a German immigrant named Joseph Berkemeier made his way from New-

port, Ky., under Cincinnati’s shadow to the crags and crevices of east central Indiana as it tucks and folds its way north toward Brookville Lake. There, he purchased a plot of farmland that remains in the Berkemeier family four generations later. “My great-grandfather originally bought 40 acres,” said Eileen Fisse, who lives in the house she and husband, Charles, built just a few yards from the original homestead and outbuildings. Charles and Eileen, who’ve been married 57 years, raised six children, 10 grandchildren and a greatgrandchild on or about the farm her great-grandfather built, and though they no longer actively farm the property themselves, for them Indiana farming is more than a way of life; it should be a requirement. “I think every kid should be raised in the country,” Eileen said. “Today, kids think eggs come from a carton and milk comes from a box.” The Fisses’ children, however, had every opportunity to learn precisely how and from where their food comes. “Our kids were very active on the farm and in 4-H and FFA,” Eileen said. “There were plenty of chores to See berkemeier on b12 >>

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

“I think every kid should be raised in the country. Today, kids think eggs come from a carton and milk comes from a box.” —eileen fisse

ABOVE: From left, Lizzie Fisse, 8, Erica Stevens, Cindy Stevens, PJ Fisse, 11, Eileen Fisse, Charles Fisse and Phil Fisse.

berkemeier // cont. from B11

do and very little time for them to say, ‘I’m bored.”’ It’s not like the Fisse kids had much of choice. Charles’ roots in the land go back nearly as far. His grandparents journeyed from Benton County, north of Lafayette, and purchased 120 acres of Decatur County farmland just a few miles west of the Berkemeier farm. Charles worked that farm as well until two operations became one too many. “I would have liked to have kept it,” Charles said. “But it was just a little too much.” At its high point, the Berkemeier spread encompassed some 160 acres where the family grew at various times corn, wheat, hay, winter barley and beans and raised hogs, cattle, sheep and chickens — lots of chickens. “At one point my mother had 300 chickens,” Eileen said, with the eggs going to local hatcheries. Nowadays, the farm, down to about 75 acres, is

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

B13

managed by the Fisses’ son, who continues to grow corn, soy beans and hay on the property. Charles helps out but splits his time trucking and working with his wife part time at a big-box retailer. Though the size and output have diminished over time, the farm’s stature has only increased. Last March, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture recognized the Berkemeier family farm with the Hoosier Homestead Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership. The Hoosier Homestead Award program recognizes families with farms that have remained in the same family for 100 years or more. In 2012, the state recognized 43 family farms through the program, and more than 5,000 farms have been honored for their longevity since the program’s inception in 1976. In addition to a century of service, qualifying farms must be at least 20 acres or produce $1,000 worth of agriculture products annually. Though gratified by the recognition, the Fisses are realistic about the present status of the small family farm in a world of corporate-owned mega-spreads. “Now, it’s really just an expensive hobby,” Eileen says. Hobby or not, she says the farm will remain in the family for as long as she has anything to do with it. “We won’t sell the place,” she said. “I talked to her one time about selling, but she said, ‘No way,’ so I listened,”’ Charles said. With tilling, planting, fertilizing and harvesting being done by others, the Fisses now have time to travel and enjoy just being on land that goes back generations. The couple have traveled to all contiguous 48 states following a passion they’ve enjoyed for more than 30 years — square dancing. With winter setting in, Eileen tends her puzzles, Charles carves wood from trees downed from the woods out back and serves as court taster to Eileen’s cooking. “I’ve got to try it,” he says of Eileen’s dishes. “You have to have quality control, and I’m never sure with just one bite.” *FI

TOP: Three generations: from left, PJ, Phil and Charles look out at the field and discuss what work needs to be done before the spring planting season. RIGHT: Phil, PJ and Lizzie work to restore their 1982 John Deere 2940 tractor.

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

StudentProfiles layne sanders

erin bush School: Franklin Community High School

School: Greensburg High School

Advisers: Ashley Schultz, Bill McIntire, Heather Dougherty

Adviser: Guinn Wicker

Potential College Choice: Kansas State University

Potential College Choice: Purdue University

What made you join your groups?

Since joining 4-H and FFA, both organizations have helped my work ethic and character. I love animals and being a fourth-generation cattleman in my family has been a rewarding experience.

I have a family background in 4-H and FFA. My grandfather and uncle have farmed as their careers and I have always had an interest in agriculture because of my family’s involvement.

What do you like or dislike about farming and agriculture?

One part of agriculture I wish I could change: The vast majority of Americans are increasingly disconnected from farmers and where their food originates. Through FFA and 4-H, we need to stress the importance of agriculture.

One thing that I like about agriculture is that it is the background of the world. Without agriculture, we would not survive. However, I dislike agriculture only because people are not informed about agriculture and do not understand how important it is to our society.

What changes would you like to see in agriculture?

When government steps in as a middleman, regulations make it hard for farmers to farm and small businesses to operate. We need to stress the importance of how today's farmer must wear many hats.

I would like agriculture to take a step of improvement in the social level so people are more aware of its importance. New technology will definitely help with this, and we are gradually moving in that direction.

Where do you see farming and agriculture in the next 5 to 10 years?

In the next five to ten years, I see farmers and agriculture staying strong, giving America the highest quality food, clothing and products to support our economy. With new farming technology, production will continue to increase. As long as we have the freedom to choose what we grow and what we eat, we will continue to enjoy the fruits of the American harvest.

Where do you see farming and agriculture in the next 5 to 10 years?

Within the next 5-10 years, I see agriculture moving forward and continuing to develop a more sustainable agriculture with new developments in technology and animal production, especially because of the intensely growing population.

We will profile two 4-H and FFA members in each issue of Farm Indiana. If you know a member who lives in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings or Johnson County whom you think we should feature, visit our Farm Indiana page on Facebook, download the questionnaire and follow the directions at the bottom to enter.

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Farm Indiana // february 2013

B15

FARM INDIANA

Calendar of Events Feb. 2

Purdue Ag Alumni Science Forecast and Fish Fry.

Guest speaker will be Steve Inskeep, host of National Public Radio Morning Edition. He is known for his probing questions to presidents, warlords, authors and musicians, but his passion is the untold stories of the less famous. Time: 11:30 a.m. Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis. Information: ag.purdue. edu/agalumni/ Pages/2013%20Fish Fry.aspx.

Feb. 5

Bartholomew County Extension and Soil & Water Conservation District Annual Meeting.

Guest speaker will be Fred Whitford, coordinator, Purdue Pesticides Program. Tickets are available at the Extension and SWCD offices. Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, 750 W. Road 200S, Columbus. Information: bartholomewswcd.org.

Feb. 5

Aim to Start Strong Winter Meetings.

Stewart Seeds is holding a series of winter meetings to prepare for the upcoming planting season. Stewart Seeds agronomists Justin Petrosino, Trevor Perkins and Brian

Denning will lead a discussion on management practices that are key to getting a good crop stand established this spring, including plant spacing, even emergence and plant population. Lunch is provided. Time: 9 a.m. to noon. Location: Clarion Inn, 2480 Jonathan Moore Pike, Columbus. Information: (800) 365-7333.

Feb. 6

Southern Indiana Grazing Conference.

Speakers and topics include Walt Davis, “Tricks of the Trade and Grazing for Gain”; David Hall, “Selecting Cattle for Fescue Tolerance”; Jay Fuhrer, “Integrating Livestock to Work Within Your System”; Gabe Brown, “Using Livestock to Rejuvenate the Land”; Wally Olson, “Marketing Strategies and Year Around Grazing”; Ed Ballard, “Extending the Grazing Season.” Time: 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 6. Location: Simon J. Graber Facility, 9164 E. Road 875N, Odon. Information: (812) 2544780, ext. 3, daviesscoswcd.org.

Feb. 12April 2

Wildlife Management for the Private Landowner Workshop.

Comprehensive, eight-week workshop designed to provide landowners with information about how to

develop and implement wildlife management objectives on their property. The cost for the workshop is $100 and includes a binder and CD with resource materials, publications geared to course topics, and snacks and drinks during each evening. Specific topics will include the biology and management of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, rabbits and doves. There will be two Saturday field days that demonstrate techniques discussed in the classroom. Time: 6 to 9 p.m., every Tuesday night. Forest management field day will be March 9, and the grassland/wetland field day will be March 30. Location: Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center near North Vernon. Information: (812) 662-4999.

Feb. 13-16

National Farm Machinery Show.

The 48th National Farm Machinery Show, the nation’s largest indoor farm show, returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center. Location: 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, Ky. Information: farm machineryshow.org.

Feb. 14

Purdue Regional Dairy Roadshow Meeting.

Topics include market and other current updates in the dairy industry by various

PHOto by scott henderson, national farm machinery show

FEB. 13-16: The equipment on display at the National Farm Machinery Show towers over the crowd.

representatives. Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Family Arts Building, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, 750 W. Road 200S, Columbus. Information: ag.purdue.edu.

Feb. 15

Seventh annual Agribusiness Farmers Breakfast.

Time: 8:30 a.m. Location: WG Smith Building, Memorial Park, New Castle. Information: www.henry countycf.org.

Time: 9 a.m. Shelby County Fairgrounds, Family Arts Building, 500 Frank St., Shelbyville. Information: (317) 392-6460.

fit the needs of women in all sectors of agriculture and in different phases of their life. Location: Clarion Hotel, Columbus. Information: (812) 379-1665.

Feb. 18 & 20

Farm Succession and Estate Planning.

Location: Brownstown Baptist Church. Information: (812) 358-6101.

Feb. 20

Women to Women: Educating Women about Farm Commodity Marketing.

of food safety on fresh fruit and vegetable farms. Time: 9 a.m. Location: Southeast Purdue Ag Center, 4425 E. Road 350N, Butlerville. Information: ag.purdue.edu.

Featuring Naomi Blohm, expert at advising farmers on how to manage their cash marketing needs and properly use futures and options. Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: Bartholomew County Extension Office, 1971 State St., Columbus. Information: (812) 379-1665.

Feb. 18

Feb. 21-22

Feb. 16

Good Agriculture Practices. Discussion

Private Applicator Recertification Program.

Midwest Women in Ag Conference.

Feb. 28

Herbicide Resistant Weed Management Update.

PARP and CCH credits available. Location: Pines Evergreen Room, Seymour. Information: (812) 358-6101. *FI

SEND US YOUR UPCOMING AGRICULTURE EVENTS: Be sure to include a contact, the date, location and other important information. Email info to: farmindiana@ hnenewspapers.com.

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