The Hoosier Farmer - issue 72 by Indiana Farm Bureau

Two Different Approaches to Connecting with Consumers Pages 4, 5

Ag Leaders Return from European Adventure Page 6

INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 State & Nation.............. 3 Around Farm Bureau.... 6 Communication............ 7 Around INFB............... 8

The Hoosier Farmer

A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 Issue No. 72

Property taxes among legislative priorities for 2016 session —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team During the 2016 legislative session, Indiana Farm Bureau will prioritize five main issues: • Farmland property taxes.

• Tax assessment. • Transportation and infrastructure. • Annexation and extraterritorial jurisdiction. • Property rights. Tackling the issue of property taxes is two-fold, and the

first step is lowering the overall burden. Last year the General Assembly stopped the bleeding, said Katrina Hall, INFB tax specialist and state government relations director, but now the level of farmland taxes must be addressed. In addition to “fixing the farmland valuation formula,” INFB supports lowering the property tax caps for farmland, farm buildings and farm machinery to 1 percent of the assessed value. Alleviating the heavy farmland tax burden would allow Hoosier farmers to reinvest in the farm and in the local economy, as well support

their families. INFB state policy says that no property tax relief mechanism should favor another class of taxpayers at the expense of agriculture. So picking the target of 1 percent of assessed value was not arbitrary; it is the maximum percentage of assessed value that residential property can be taxed in Indiana, Hall said. Occupants of residential property utilize government services such as roads, schools and libraries. Outside of police and fire protection, crops growing in the field do not benefit from any

government services, yet the percentage of the assessed value of which farmland can be taxed in Indiana is double that of residential property, she noted. INFB’s will also focus on assessment practices and local property tax boards of appeals. There are still many farmers who are experiencing removal of an obvious farm from the farmland classification and aggressive personal property audits. Check out upcoming issues of The Hoosier Farmer for details about INFB’s other legislative priorities for 2016.

New INFB president takes office Jan. 1. The Indiana Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee tried an experiment in consumer relations on Sept. 12. They sponsored a booth at the weekly farmers market held at Muncie’s Minnetrista Center and passed out samples of perfectly cooked pork loin along with information on pork preparation and production. Here three members of the committee – Melba Lloyd, District 10 education and outreach coordinator; LouAnn Zimmerman, District 4 EOC; and Marla Storm, District 3 EOC – prepare the pork samples for distribution. Photos by Kathleen M. Dutro

Sheryl Seib, District 9 education and outreach coordinator, hands out a one-use meat thermometer to market goers. In addition to the pork samples, the WLC also provided guidelines on how to cook pork, discussed how pork is raised in the U.S., and passed out recipe cards.

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—By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team The election of officers for Indiana Farm Bureau takes place at the annual meeting, which will be Nov. 17 in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. This year will be something out of the ordinary because INFB President Don Villwock is not running for reelection. So far, four people have announced that they are seeking the office of president. This doesn’t mean that more people won’t decide to run, noted Mark Sigler, INFB chief operating officer and treasurer, but four have notified Sigler of their candidacy. Those four are Randy Kron, INFB vice president; Dave Wyeth, District 5 director; Donnie Lawson, former District 5 director; and Joe Kelsay, former director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. According to the bylaws, any new officer elected at the Nov. 17 annual meeting will take office Jan. 1, 2016. The only office that is currently up for election is that of president, Sigler noted. In accordance with the bylaws, elections for the offices of vice president and second vice president will be held at the 2015 annual meet-

ing only if the current office holder in one or both of these positions is elected to a higher office. In the event the office of vice president becomes open, four candidates have so far announced that they are seeking this office. They are Isabella Chism, INFB second vice president; Jeff Gormong, District 7 director; Kevin Underwood, District 3 director; and Kendell Culp, former District 3 director. In the event the office of second vice president be-

comes open, two candidates have so far announced that they are seeking this office: Deb Walsh, District 1 education and outreach coordinator; and Marybeth Feutz, former District 9 education and outreach coordinator. The election on Nov. 17 will be held at the same location as the delegate session, which is the 500 Ballroom. It is scheduled to start at approximately 11:15 a.m. Questions about the election should be directed to Sigler, 317-692-7852, msigler@ infb.org.

Delegates test an electronic voting system during the August delegate session by answering the question “Are you here?” This was the first time Indiana Farm Bureau had used an electronic system. The system will also be used at the November delegate session. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

NEWS IN BRIEF

News Bites —Compiled by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team

Farmers to receive tips from Purdue on writing grant proposals—A free webinar

with two Purdue University experts will offer basic information to farmers about applying for grants to support sustainable agriculture educational programs and research. Roy Ballard, Purdue Extension agriculture and natural resource educator in Hancock County, and Kris Parker, Purdue community development regional educator, will be the presenters for “Funding Opportunities for Farmers and Others” 10 a.m. to noon EDT on Oct. 7. Ballard is the Indiana Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education program coordinator. He will discuss three available North Central Region SARE grants – farmer rancher, youth educator and partnership – and offer insight on SARE priorities. Parker will discuss tips for grant writing success in 2016. A fourth NCR-SARE grant on research and education is not part of the webinar, but it is currently accepting proposals. R&E grants support sustainable agriculture innovators with competitive research and education funding. The proposals for 2016 are due Oct. 22. To access the webinar, go to https://purdue.webex. com/join/rballard. The session will be recorded and made available online for later viewing. For more information, contact Ballard at 317-462-1113 or rballard@ purdue.edu. (Purdue 9/18/15)

Labor reform critical for agriculture—

AFBF continues to make the point that with more than 1 million undocumented farm workers, agriculture needs labor reform that provides a

Administrative/Finance Team

President.........................................Don Villwock Vice President...................................Randy Kron Second Vice President................ Isabella Chism Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer..Mark Sigler Receptionist..........................................Kim Duke General Fund Accountant..............Tiffanie Ellis Office Manager & Meeting Planner.Kay Keown Controller..........................................Elaine Rueff Administrative Assistant...................Jill Shanley Executive Secretary.................... Beverly Thorpe

District Directors Larry Jernas (1) Kevin Ousley (2) Kevin Underwood (3) Steve Maple (4) Dave Wyeth (5)

Scott Trennepohl (6) Jeff Gormong (7) Mark Bacon (8) Philip Springstun (9) Robert Schickel (10)

Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation

Director...............................................John Shoup

September 28, 2015

quality workforce. “Agriculture needs access to a legal and stable labor force,” said Kristi Boswell, AFBF’s labor specialist, in the Sept. 15 edition of Newsline, AFBF’s regular podcast. However, given the current political climate, the issue is facing an uphill battle, she noted. “Ag labor on the ground is still an important issue, our farmers are struggling to find workers every day and as harvest seasons start really ramping up, the need is exhibited more and more, so we are trying to convey that message to members of Congress,” she said. To listen to or read the text of the full podcast, visit www.fb.org/newsroom/newsclip/091515/. (AFBF 9/15/15)

ASCHA offers $10,000 safety grants—The Agricultural

Safety and Health Council of America will make available approximately a dozen safety grants up to $10,000 to encourage ag safety interventions at the local and regional level. ASHCA, a not-for-profit coalition of agribusinesses, producer organizations and safety professionals, has set an application deadline of Jan. 7, 2016. Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at www.ashca.org. (AFBF 9/17/15)

Poultry movement ban lifted—Beginning

Sept. 17, Indiana poultry was allowed to resume regular movements to shows and sales. Also beginning on that date, poultry movements that include a change in ownership must be documented to allow easier disease traces. Movement of poultry that allowed birds from different locations to commingle was banned earlier this year to protect Indiana’s poultry from potential spread of the H5 avian influenza virus. That meant many county Indiana Farm Bureau Inc./ Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Director of Affiliate Relations.................. Julie Klarich

Legal Affairs Team

Director & General Counsel ...Mark Thornburg Associate Counsel for Corporate Compliance & Nonprofit Affairs ........... Sara MacLaughlin Legal Assistant........................... Maria Spellman Law Clerk..........................................Lauren Tobe

Public Policy Team

Director............................................ Megan Ritter Policy Development & Industry Relations......................... Bob Cherry National Government Relations Policy Advisor..................Kyle Cline Policy Advisor & Counsel............. Amy Cornell State Government Relations Director.......................................... Katrina Hall Grassroots Government Program Coordinator.......................................... Jeff Golc Administrative Assistant ............. Diane Helton

Indiana bicentennial barn contest in full swing

Any Indiana barn that was built prior to 1950 is eligible for entry in the Bicentennial Barns of Indiana program. Entries are being accepted through Dec. 18. Eventually 200 barns – one for each year of Indiana’s statehood – will be honored through the program. The contest, which is sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau among other groups, will honor Indiana’s rural heritage and its future by celebrating barns, said Betsy Jones, program coordinator. “Every barn has a story and we hope to collect those stories and images to share now and in the future,” Jones said. For information on how to enter a barn, visit www.200indianabarns.com. Indiana celebrates its 200th anniversary as the 19th state in 2016. To ensure that agriculture is celebrated, the Bicentennial Barns of Indiana program was conceived in hopes of bringing attention to barns as icons of the past and future. This project has been endorsed by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission and is free and open to the public. A statewide committee of volunteers spearheads the

Bicentennial Barns project. It will be funded via sponsorships and donations, which are tax deductible. Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Farm Credit Mid America offices and employees and have made lead gifts, and Indiana Landmarks is offering significant in-kind support. These partnerships are going to make success possible. Rack cards are now available at all county Farm Credit and Farm Bureau offices, as well as Beacon Credit Union offices. “Our sponsors are providing a tremendous service in helping get the word out in every county, so we can truly make this a statewide effort and meet that goal of securing participation from every corner of the state,” said Jones. This program celebrates Indiana agriculture and the iconic barn through art and education. In addition to the contest, a traveling exhibit and complimentary educational programs are planned. The exhibit will comprise winning and designated barns and will travel the state. There are additional long-term outcomes from the project that will last beyond 2016 including a barn census, tourism trails, and more. To read the interesting stories that are being shared or to enter a barn, go to

www.200indianabarns.com. Any individual can enter a barn. The contest seeks to select 200 entries that best celebrate Indiana’s classic barns and their impact on its economy and history, and to preserve them for future generations to use, appreciate, and connect us to our past. Entries will be considered for their aesthetics, character and condition, geographic distribution and construction type. A panel of artists, preservationists and agriculturalists will select the 200 barns, and 10 will receive a handcrafted framed plaque made by Scottsburg artist Dorrel Harrison. Harrison, who also is an Indiana Artisan, creates three-dimensional images of barns from reclaimed wood. The 200 barns will receive a commemorative Bicentennial Barn sign. The Indiana Bicentennial Commission has endorsed Bicentennial Barns of Indiana as a Bicentennial Legacy Project. Indiana’s 2016 bicentennial celebration aims to honor the state’s 200 years of history, and to do so in a modern way that engages all 6.5 million Hoosiers and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations. For more information on bicentennial projects or how to get involved in your area, go to www.indiana2016.org.

fairs offered alternative activities to poultry shows. “We appreciate the cooperation from bird owners and exhibitors during the past few months,” said Dr. Bret D. Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian. “The sacrifices made during this unprecedented disease event have not gone unnoticed.” September 17 marked 90 days since the last case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was identified in the United States. The members of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health voted to lift the ban to allow normal

movements to resume with the additional recordkeeping to provide a way to trace any disease breaks, should HPAI return to Indiana. Beginning Sept. 17, bird owners are required to maintain records of sales and purchases (including trades/barters) to their flocks. This requirement brings poultry permanently under Indiana’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule. The records need to be retained by the flock owner for 3 years and must include: names and addresses of buyer and seller, sale date,

breed, sex, number of animals and reason for movement. For more information about the record keeping requirement, including a free printable/downloadable sample record keeping sheet, visit the BOAH website at www.in.gov/ boah/2727. Nationally, the 2015 highly pathogenic avian flu event has affected 223 farms in 16 states with a loss of 48 million birds. For more information on HPAI, visit BOAH’s website at www. in.gov/boah/2390.

Administrative Assistant ........... Wanda Hunter Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel................................... Justin Schneider Livestock Development Specialist... Greg Slipher Direct Retail Business Specialist....... Bob White

Program Assistant..................... Kathryn Rogers Education Coordinator..................... Julie Taylor Member Services Coordinator........ Anna Todd Program Assistant............................Tracie Trent

Address Letters & Questions To: Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Phone: 1-800-327-6287 or (317) 692-7776 E-Mail Address: askus@infarmbureau.org

Regional Managers

Duplicate Magazines If you are receiving more than one copy of The Hoosier Farmer®, please cut out both labels and return them to the address above.

—By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team & Bicentennial Barns of Indiana Program

Public Relations Team

Director & Editor ........................Andy Dietrick Web Designer/Developer............. Diane Brewer Publications Managing Editor & Media Relations Specialist......Kathleen Dutro Marketing & PR Specialist................Mindy Reef Communications Assistant....... Rachel Schrage Communications Specialist, Public Policy and Advocacy............. Jay Wood

Organizational Development Team

Director..................................Mel Hollingsworth Program Assistant....................... Ashley Beasley Field Services Program Director..Chris Fenner Young Farmer & Women’s Program Coordinator............... Meggie Foster Membership Sales & Marketing Coordinator................Chelsea Poe

Wayne Belden (1 & 3) Greg Bohlander (6) Andrew Cleveland (4 & 6) Janice Deno (3) Jennifer Chandler Gish (9) Allison Hines (10) Amy Hutson (5) Susan Lawrence (2) John Newsom (1 & 2) Kermit Paris (8) Keegan Poe (5 & 8) Brad Ponsler (10) E.B. Rawles (7) Allie Rieth (4) Laura Ruhlman (7 & 9)

Magazine Design and Layout Davis Graphic Design www.davisgraphics.com The Hoosier Farmer® is published 14 times per year by Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206, and is furnished as a service to voting members and others. Controlled circulation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hoosier Farmer® P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

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STATE & NATION

Lugar ‘strongly’ endorses Villwock in AFBF presidential race —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team INFB President and AFBF presidential candidate Don Villwock received a powerful endorsement from one of America’s most respected statesmen, former U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Indiana. Lugar was the keynote speaker at the INFB Board of Directors luncheon in September. Widely respected for his expertise on international relations and foreign policy, he gave insightful remarks about the Iran nuclear deal and the fragile state of the Middle East as a whole, as well as his thoughts regarding the possibility of opening trade relations with Cuba. Before leaving, Senator Lugar said he “strongly” endorses Don Villwock in the race for AFBF president. The endorsement came just days

before Villwock departed for Cuba to study issues surrounding the possibility of eventual trade between the two nations. Villwock’s AFBF campaign is centered on advocacy in support of four key issues: • Free enterprise. • Private property rights.

• Fiscal integrity. • Local control. Support for free enterprise also means support for free markets, including opening trade relations between the United States and Cuba, particularly in regard to agricultural trade. Villwock’s mission

to Cuba is perceived as evidence of a presidentialready leader who is confident and capable in his ability to advance the interests of American agriculture on the international stage.

Supporters of the Villwock campaign are encouraged to keep up with the Cuba mission and all other activities via the campaign website and social media pages listed on this page.

don@donvillwock.com facebook.com/Don4Prez @farmerdon72 Don Villwock (channel) Former Sen. Richard Lugar with INFB President Don Villwock. Lugar endorsed Villwock in his quest to become president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Photo by Jay A. Wood

www.donvillwock.com

More Indiana counties designated primary natural disaster areas —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Eight more Indiana counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding this spring and summer. This latest announcement came Sept. 2. These eight counties are in addition to the 53 counties named in an Aug. 12 disaster declaration. The eight new counties are Clark, Fulton, Morgan, Owen, Rush,

Shelby, White and Whitley. Counties that are contiguous to primary natural disaster areas also qualify for disaster assistance. In all, 88 Indiana counties (every county except LaGrange, Perry, Spencer and Steuben) now qualify for disaster assistance. All qualified farm operators in the designated counties are eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date

of the declaration (Aug. 12 for the first counties named and Sept. 2 for the eight most recently named counties) to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. Additional programs available to assist farmers and ranchers include the

INFB offers tips to avoid going up WOTUS creek without a paddle —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team Although widely criticized by agriculture, building and industry groups, the WOTUS rule remains in effect in 37 states (including Indiana), and will continue to be enforced until and unless the U.S. Senate takes action on S.1140. “Without question, WOTUS needs to be repealed and EPA needs to go back to the drawing board. But until that time comes, their regulation is the law of the land in Indiana,” said INFB senior policy advisor Justin Schneider. “So long as this rule is in effect, it is important for farmers and all other

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property owners to take the precautions necessary to avoid hefty fines from the government.” Until identified definitively, farmers should proceed as though all of their acreage, structures included, is subject to WOTUS. Farmers are encouraged to request a “jurisdictional determination” from the Army Corps of Engineers in order to pinpoint exactly whether and where areas that are considered “Waters of the U.S.” exist on their property. If the Corps determines that one or more WOTUS exist on the property, the next question needs to be whether or not dirt-moving activities in or around the

WOTUS qualify for any permitting exemptions. Before conducting activities that could result in a regulated discharge in or around a WOTUS, EPA mandates that farmers must apply for a Section 402 or 404 permit. For more information about those permits, visit http://water.epa.gov/ lawsregs/rulesregs/. To avoid these regulatory nightmares altogether, INFB encourages members to contact Indiana’s two senators, Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly, and urge them vote yes on S.1140, which would repeal WOTUS and force EPA to reexamine the ruling.

Emergency Conservation Program; the Livestock Forage Disaster Program; the Livestock Indemnity Program; the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested

farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

House Speaker Brian C. Bosma provided the keynote address for AgriInstitute’s Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program luncheon, hosted by INFB. Bosma took questions from the audience following his remarks. Photo by Jay A. Wood

September 28, 2015

AROUND THE FARM

Consumer C Porter County farmers learn restaurant business ‘on the go’

It started with a couple of guys and their dad, all farmers, becoming adept at grilling pork chops. “When my father was still alive, he always dragged me and my brother to these Northwest Indiana Pork Producer grilling fundraiser events,” Chris Birky said. Then in the 1980s, “We got to be kind of identified as the pork producer pork chop people.” Chris still farms with his brother Greg, and the farm – and pork chops – are still important to Birky Family Farms. But the food service portion of the operation started growing in the 1990s. Then it grew some more. Then it grew still more. And now…well, you don’t have to go very far in Porter County and vicinity to find Birky Family Farms’ foods. There’s Birky Family Farms Bakery & Coffee Shop in Kouts. That facility also houses the Country Market, where meat, pies, frozen pizzas and other food items are sold, and it’s the headquarters for Birky Family Farms Country Gourmet, the food service, hospitality and catering business. Then there are two restaurants: Piggies & Cream at the Depot, also in Kouts, and Piggies & Cream at the Point in North Judson. And there are the three Piggies & Cream concession trailers used at county fairs and festivals throughout the summer and fall. And there are the Birky Family Farms barbecue sauces, grilling rub and barbecue spice, available at six local Wholefoods markets as well as the Country Market. The management is provided by Chris and his wife, Melissa, with some support – financially but also “mentally and emotionally” – from

cousins, Birky said. The couple has four children, but at ages 10, 9, 7 and 6, they’re a bit young yet to join the business. And what a business it has become. It now employs 12-15 people during the winter and 40-50 during the peak of the summer fair season. It started slow, really. When the local pork producer group closed in the 1990s, Chris and Greg purchased the organization’s grills with the idea of making some extra money by grilling pork chops as a side business. They opened the Country Store in 1995, selling their own pork, sweet corn, pumpkins, and so on – “just trying to come up with some extra income ideas,” Birky explained. Then they started selling pork burgers at a business in Valparaiso, first out of a tent, and then out of a trailer known as the Pork Patty Wagon. They started doing concessions at the county fair, and after purchasing two other concession trucks, they started working other fairs and festivals, too. In 2010, Chris’ cousins decided they wanted to sell their Kouts catering business, and the two businesses merged, creating Birky Family Farms Country Gourmet. “That’s when everything kind of went crazy,” Birky recalled. “In the fall of 2011, we opened this,” he said, referring to the bakery, “and in the spring of 2012, we opened those two restaurants…And so in just the blink of an eye, we found ourselves just way over our heads, doing things we had no idea how to do.” Most of what they now know about managing restaurants they learned on the go, Chris said. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it,” Birky said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that God called us to do this. Nobody in their right mind

At Piggies & Cream at the Depot (his restaurant in Kouts), Birky offers some homemade ice cream to a chocolate-loving photographer. A second restaurant, Piggies & Cream at the Point, is in North Judson. Besides ice cream and pork, the restaurants both serve the Birky’s brand root beer.

Most of the Birkys’ food enterprises are seasonal, but one of the exceptions is their combination bakery, coffee shop and Country Store in Kouts. In addition to baked goods, sandwiches and of course coffee, the facility sells frozen pork and poultry from the Birkys’ farm, frozen beef from their cousins’ farm, as well as homemade frozen pies, pizzas and other items.

—Story & Photos By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team

September 28, 2015

would do what we’ve done if God wasn’t in it. No one opens a restaurant in Kouts or North Judson – I mean, come on, that’s just ridiculous. No one opens one without any experience either. But the restaurants, they’re going to be profitable this year. Not much, but they’re going to be profitable. “The CEO isn’t getting paid yet,” he added, “but that’s all right. We’ll

get there at some point in time.” He concluded by referring to Birky’s mission, which is “Bless & Refresh.” “At the end of the day it simply comes down to blessing and refreshing others the way God has blessed and refreshed us through Jesus,” Birky concluded. “We sell hope… and it comes through pork burgers and yummy ice cream.”

Chris Birky poses by his concession trailer during the 2015 Porter County Fair. It’s one of three concession trailers operated by Birky Family Farms, and the trailers are just one of several ways the farm markets directly to consumers. The company has branded its two restaurants and three concession trucks “Piggies & Cream,” referring to the pork burgers and ice cream that it’s best known for.

Pork burgers sizzle on the grill during the Porter County Fair. Whether it’s from a concession trailer, the grill they use for their catering business or one of the restaurants, pork burgers and pork chops are two of Birky’s staples.

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AROUND THE FARM

Connections Flowers and field trips major focuses for Washington County farm —Story & Photos By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team Cornucopia Farm is becoming a well-known destination for fall family fun and seasonal decorations. The Baird family raises 2,800 mums and 90 varieties of pumpkins, gourds and squash on their Washington County farm. They also offer a variety of activities for families and school groups. “We consider ourselves a boutique farm,” said Linda Baird. “We’re open to the public on the weekend, but otherwise, we’re by appointment. We don’t want anything to interfere with field trips, and we have one nearly every day of the week.” “When we have a school group here, that’s where our attention is,” added Kevin Baird, Linda’s husband. “We don’t want anything to distract from these kids learning and having fun.” The farm sees approximately 5,000 children come through each fall to play games, interact with animals and learn about agriculture. In addition to their family-focused agritourism venture, the Bairds are known throughout southern Indiana for their beautiful mums. Their fall mum crop is planted in June, and by September, they’re blooming and ready for purchase. Last year, their mums sold out so fast that the Bairds planted 600 more for this fall. “The mums will probably be gone by mid-October, which is when most people start to think about buying them,” Linda said. “So I always tell people, when you think mums, think September.” Cornucopia Farm also sells dozens of varieties of pumpkins and gourds. You can pick them from the field yourself or buy pre-picked ones in a multitude of sizes, shapes and colors from the farm market.

Linda and Kevin Baird raise 2,800 mums on their Washington County farm. Here, the Bairds are picking 125 perfect mums for a customer’s staff appreciation event.

Kevin Baird carries mums to the farm’s trailer for delivery to a customer.

Customers can choose from 90 varieties of pumpkins and gourds at the Cornucopia Farm market.

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A cart full of white pumpkins, ready to be purchased. According to Linda Baird, they are popular for fall weddings.

“We’re so blessed to have a good crop of pumpkins this year,” Linda said. “Our crop suffered some due to all of the rain we got after planting, but not nearly as much as it could have. We should still have plenty of pumpkins to make it through the season.” The Bairds’ farm is impressive, and people in the community have taken notice. Recently, Linda won the Women in Agriculture Achievement Award from Purdue Extension. The award recognizes women who are an integral part of a home farming operation. “I was really surprised to win,” she said. “I grew up in Tennessee, so the fact that people have gotten to know us and our farm, and think enough of

it to nominate me, that’s very special.” Baird attributes the award, at least in part, to her passion for community outreach and giving back. Each year, the Bairds donate five mums to Washington County Farm Bureau to auction off at their annual meeting. This year, the five mums brought in $1,200. Half of the money went to a farm safety program for local youth. The other half went to Washington County’s food bank, and thanks to a match by the county board, the food bank received $1,200. “To know that we had a part in that makes me feel really good,” she said. “We donated five mums and the food bank got $1,200. Isn’t that awesome?”

September 28, 2015

AROUND FARM BUREAU

Farm Bureau trip to the EU teaches participant that farmers worldwide share many of the same issues Editor’s note: Voting members from Indiana and Michigan Farm Bureaus traveled to Germany and Belgium Aug. 31-Sept. 11 as part of the Ag Leadership Exchange program to learn more about agriculture in those countries and in the EU as a whole. This first person account comes from one of the participants from INFB. For more on the trip, see infb.org/infb/ programs/ALE. —————————— What happens when you get together 19 farmers from two states and send them on a 12-day adventure to two countries? Answer: a lot of camaraderie, education, and a deepening understanding of worldwide agriculture. Our group, which also included four Farm Bureau staff members, spent time in Germany and Belgium touring dairy farms, learning about biomass generators, wind turbines, solar panels and coal mining, just to name a few things. My favorite thing we saw was the robotic cow milkers. What an amazing piece of technology! We also were granted time with five agricultural specialists, two in Germany and three in the European Union. My favorite speaker was Kelly Stange from the U.S. Embassy. Kelly hails from Franklin County, Missouri, and has spent the last six years representing American agriculture abroad. Kelly has the unique position of selling what we do to companies, cultures, and parliamentarians around the world. Her ag background and knowledge, along with her ability to speak well, enable her to sell what we do. Nothing makes me prouder than to know that we as American Farmers have this type of person advocating for us. Wojtek Talko from Poland is a policy coordinator with the European Union and was another great speaker. Wojekt is a candid speaker who was willing to openly discuss with our group trade policy and, on a more local level, GMOs. I came home with a better understanding of our position in the world marketplace. My take-aways are that we share the same issues – regulation, animal welfare, lack of consumer understanding, and competitive pricing. As a country,

September 28, 2015

Stephanie Hendricks

we are behind on some things, especially renewable energy. As a farming community, both nationally and internationally, we need to do a better job of educating our consumers what we do, how we do it, and why we do it. If we are going to produce food to feed the world, this is a must.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Sevrey, Michigan Farm Bureau

—By Stephanie Hendricks Johnson County

Nineteen voting members of Indiana and Michigan Farm Bureaus traveled to Germany and Belgium as part of the Ag Leadership Exchange program. The entire group, including the four staff members who traveled with them, is shown here at the headquarters of the European Union.

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COMMUNICATION

5 quick tips for taking your social media activity to the next level —By Lyndsey Murphy Digital Media Specialist American Farm Bureau Federation Social media is now rooted in our daily routines. Whether we’re grabbing a cup of coffee or commuting to work, we start our day immediately connected to what’s happening – from our friends’ vacations to the latest in world events. What started as a casual way to keep up with former classmates is now essential to get where we’re going, reach

who we want, decide what to buy and who to believe, and to share what we care about. There are so many avenues to send your message out through, but just getting the message “out there” isn’t always enough. With nearly 500 million tweets sent per day and a constantly changing Facebook algorithm, how can you be sure your posts are getting noticed? Taking your social media activity to the next level is simpler than you might think. Here a few quick tips to take you from participating in the conversation to driving it. Ask questions. Use your social media platforms to ask people what they think, if they have questions about what you do, or post a picture and ask them what they see. This is one of the easiest ways to get engagement from your followers (and boost your views). Use images. This is an absolute must if you don’t want to be skipped over. Sharing a gorgeous photo will entertain and inform, and it will catch readers’ attention better than a long, wordy post. Filters or short text added to the photo helps, too. Your followers might not always agree with your message, but they’ll always believe what they see

with their own eyes. Time it right. Reach your audience where and when they are most engaged. Take time to think about the messages you want to share and which platform they are best suited for. If it’s on Facebook, aim for Thursday through Sunday to get the best engagement, especially from 1-4 p.m. Twitter sees the most action from 12-3 p.m. and then peaks at 5 p.m., when people are commuting home. Instagram sees the most traffic after office hours, especially on Mondays and Thursdays. Share resources. Be known as a reliable resource for useful information. Share insights from your own life as well as interesting articles or information from other organizations. Just be careful not to overwhelm people with too much. Be selective so your audience can see you’ve taken the time to share only the most helpful resources. Know what’s trending and tag others. Use popular conversations and holidays to get in on the conversation and have your content seen! By tagging others in your posts, you’ll automatically call attention to them and the post will be shared not only on your page but also on the pages of the tagees.

New edition of ‘Food and Farm Facts’ now available The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Food and Farm Facts book, pocket guides and poster are now available for purchase. Order online at http:// bit.ly/1OZsr9a with a credit card. State and county Farm Bureaus may be invoiced for orders. Teachers may provide a purchase order from their schools. The book features 32 pages of color photos and graphics, as well as a wallsized map poster showing where various foods, livestock and crops are grown. “Pocket guide” versions of the book also are available. Food and Farm Facts activity cards for grades 4-6 and grades 7-12 are being developed by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and will be available soon.

www.thehoosierfarmer.com

Social media doesn’t need to be exclusive: You should always be inviting more friends and followers to join the conversation. Are you ready to be a

social media pro? Focus on the message you want to share, keep it short – and occasionally humorous – tie in a striking image, and you’ll be well on your way.

MEMBER BENEFIT Indiana Farm Bureau is pleased to introduce an enhanced member benefit program – My Member Deals powered by Abenity, offering national, state and local savings! • • • • • • •

Fine and casual dining Shopping Automotive Concerts & events Movie tickets Travel And much more!

Over 125,000 additional offers are available from brands including Costco, Disneyland, Olive Garden, AMC Theaters, Six Flags, Sam’s Club, SeaWorld, Macaroni Grill, Brooks Brothers, LA Fitness, DirecTV, Target.com, Red Lobster, and more! Sen. Dan Coats (left) met with members of Indiana Farm Bureau’s Leaders in Action program during their Washington, D.C., trip to discuss key issues such as biotechnology, WOTUS, taxes and trade. The group also met with Sen. Joe Donnelly earlier in the day. Applications for the 2016 LiA program will be available later in the fall. Photos by Mindy Reef

Save on almost everything wherever you are! Visit the Members Only section at www.itpaystobeamember.org and look for My Member Deals to learn more about these and the many other money saving programs available to you through your Farm Bureau membership.

From left, Omair Mizra, legislative assistant for Rep. Andre Carson, meets with Jack Haefling, Marion County; Ashley Beasley, Marion County; Rachel Schrage, Marion County; and Lauren Jernas, Starke County. Leaders in Action participants met with their representatives on the second day of the three-day trip. The first day was devoted to learning about key issues from American Farm Bureau staff.

September 28, 2015

AROUND INFB

INFB membership year ends September 30 —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team

Bureau member who signs a new voting member between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30 will be entered to win two 200-level tickets for the Oct. 18 Colts vs. New England Patriots game as well as a $200 gift card for St. Elmo Steak House. To be eligible, your name must appear in the “referred by” box on a new member’s application. Your name will be entered once for every

As this issue of The Hoosier Farmer was going to press, there were just a few days remaining for members to qualify for the final membership contests of the membership year. Indiana Farm Bureau is asking members to sign at least one new voting member in September. Any Farm

new voting member that you sign. The new voting members themselves will also be entered into a prize drawing. Any new voting member signed between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30 will be entered to win two 200-level tickets to the Colts vs. the Denver Broncos game on Nov. 8 as well as a $200 gift card for St. Elmo Steak House. To be eligible, you must

to see official rules, visit www.infarmbureau.org. Either an online application or printable application is acceptable. The winner of the August membership contest was John Michel of Gibson County, who won a $500 gift card. There were 78 entries in the contest.

have joined Farm Bureau as a new voting member between Sept. 1, 2015, and Sept. 30, 2015. Completed applications should be sent to Indiana Farm Bureau, Attention: K. Rogers – Membership Contest, P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206. To be eligible, the applications must be postmarked by Sept. 30 as well. For more information and

Monday night of convention features Villwock send-off —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team

September 28, 2015

Received

/ X

Member’s E-mail (Please print clearly)

/ Member’s Signature

 Cash $  Check No. We respect your privacy and will never rent or sell your information. By providing your email address you are opting in to receive email from our company, and you may request to stop receiving emails from us at any time. Return completed application to your County Farm Bureau Office, membership volunteer, or mail to Indiana Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Annual Primary dues are $32.50. Select and Student membership annual dues are $15.00. Primary membership is a prerequisite for purchasing a Select Membership. Membership Volunteer’s or Writing Agent’s Name

THF2015 SC2015 __ __ __ __ Spouse’s SSN (Last 4) ) Spouse Phone ( )(

Spouse’s Birth Date

Type of Farming Operation _______________________________________ Internal Use Only ) Member’s SSN (Last 4) __ __ __ __ Voting Members: No. Acres ____________________ Member’s Birth Date Member Phone ( )(

Type of Membership  Primary  Select  Student

 Voting  Associate

Township County Number County Farm Bureau

A voting member is an individual, a partnership, an unincorporated association or a corporation who owns or operates a farm or who is engaged and derives income from agriculture. Agriculture includes commercial production of plants, aquatic species, forestry, animals, beekeeping and related production activities. Farms commercially produce and market agricultural commodities or products. An associate member is any person, firm or corporation interested in agriculture to any degree less than that required for a voting membership.

Township Number

(State) (City) Address (Street, Road, R.R., Box No., P.O. Box)

Membership Classification (check one)

Membership Number

(Zip Code)

(Middle) (First) Spouse Name (Last) (Middle) (First) Your Name (Last) Today’s Date

Cut out application along dashed lines. Shaded areas to be completed in county and state offices.

Donald B. Villwock, President

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

To make it easier for members to participate in the membership drive, we’re now including a membership application here in The Hoosier Farmer. Cut the application form out or make copies and give them to new potential members. Remember to have them put your name in the membership volunteer box, then send it to the address printed along the bottom of the form. You can also have them visit INFB’s membership site, www.itpaystobeamember. org, to sign up online.

Indiana Farm Bureau state convention attendees will spend the evening of Monday, Nov. 16, celebrating the work of outgoing president Don Villwock. Donya Lester, executive director of Purdue Alumni Association, will emcee the program. The session begins at 6 p.m. The evening features Villwock’s final address as state president, comments from special guests and a look back at his years of service to Indiana’s farmers. Members who would like to wish Villwock well on his future endeavors – espe-

cially the one that involves leading the American Farm Bureau Federation – are invited to bring a greeting card or note to convention. A box will be available on-site to collect the cards. INFB state convention runs Nov. 15-17 (SundayTuesday) at the Indiana Con-

vention Center in downtown Indianapolis. The deadline to reserve a hotel room is Oct. 21; for those not needing a room, convention registration is open until Oct. 30. Learn more about convention and register online at www.infb.org/convention or call 317-692-7846.

CCA nominations sought —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Indiana Farm Bureau and the Indiana Certified Crop Adviser Program are seeking nominations for the Indiana Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award. The award recognizes superior service in nutrient management, soil and water management, pest management and crop production. The winner will be recognized at the Indiana Certified Crop Adviser Conference on December 15-16 in Indianapolis. The state prize is $1,500 and eligibility for the National CCA Award of

$1,000. The county Farm Bureau that nominates the winning CCA will receive $250. The Indiana CCA board will also consider submission for the International CCA Award. Any CCA certified in Indiana is eligible for the award. Nominations may come from a county Farm Bureau, an active Farm Bureau member or by the employer of the CCA. Other agricultural groups may nominate CCAs, but the county Farm Bureau president must sign the nomination form. Farmers and their service people strive to make the best economically and envi-

ronmentally sound cropping decisions. Increasing farm size, complex management options and more complex regulations mean farmers rely more on the advice of CCAs. The CCA award program increases awareness of that relationship. Nomination materials and more information are available online at www.ifbstayinformed.org under the resources menu. Indiana Farm Bureau must receive the nomination by Nov. 20. Questions should be directed to Justin Schneider, 317-692-7835, or Quentin Rund, 800-3871283.

Calendar of Events

September 30 Final day of INFB’s membership year. October 1 District 10 fall meeting. 14 Vincennes University Discussion Meet. 16 Deadline to register for the INFB Young Farmer Discussion Meet. 22 Purdue University Discussion Meet. 28 INFB Board of Directors meeting, Indianapolis.