The Hoosier Farmer - issue 75 by Indiana Farm Bureau

2016 Legislative Priorities Page 3

Q&A with President Villwock Pages 4, 5

Fulton County Wins AFBF Award Page 6

INSIDE: News in Brief................ 2 In the Statehouse.......... 3 Around Farm Bureau.... 6 Communication............ 7 Around INFB................ 8

The Hoosier Farmer

A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau

DECEMBER 21, 2015 Issue No. 75

Registration open for Young Farmer conference —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Registration is open for the 2016 INFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference, Jan. 29-31 in Indianapolis. The conference theme is “United We Grow.” The event features returning favorites and new activities. Friday night’s schedule includes massages, cornhole and euchre tournaments and a kids’ movie. A “Canstruction” competition begins at 8 p.m. Districts will build structures with cans of food, and then conference attendees will vote on their favorites. All food will be donated to Gleaners. Keynote speaker Wayne Humphreys will address the group on Saturday morning after new INFB President Randy Kron’s welcome. Humphreys is a farmer and

humorous speaker. On Saturday, four rounds of breakout sessions are planned in a four-track format. The tracks are business, production, technology/ communication and home/ health. Participants may attend sessions in any track during the conference. Sessions for children will run concurrently with the breakout sessions. “The Dating Game,” an event exclusively for singles to participate in but for anyone to watch, returns from last year. The Dating Game runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Pre-registration for potential participants is required; the State Young Farmer Committee will select participants. Saturday night features entertainment for adults and children. For kids, Silly Safari and a pedal pull run between 8 and 9:30 p.m.

For adults, the Ag Olympics begin at 8:30 p.m., followed by country band Darlington Road. Members are encouraged to contact their county in advance to ensure that the county will cover their room and registration fees. Adult registration is $60 per person; children between 12 and 17 are $30. Children 11 and under are free. Hotel rooms are $125 plus tax per night. Details on the billing process are available at the conference website, www.infb.org/yfconf. The registration deadline is Jan. 22. INFB cannot guarantee rooms after that date. The 2016 INFB Young Farmer Leadership Conference takes place Jan. 29-31 at the Indianapolis Marriott East. Visit the conference website, www.infb.org/yfconf, for more information and to register.

New officer team looking forward to the new year —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Indiana Farm Bureau’s new officer team takes over in just a few days, and the three are looking forward to the challenges of the year ahead. “We have a great officer team, and I think the three of us are just looking forward to it and to working together as a team, working with our Indiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206

members, making Farm Bureau better and making sure agriculture is represented and is at the table, speaking with a strong, unified voice,” said President-elect Randy Kron. “I’m excited and looking forward to the future.” Kron and Vice Presidentelect Kendell Culp take office Jan. 1. They join Isabella Chism, INFB second vice president, who was first elected in 2006 and was reNon-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

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elected to a three-year term in 2014 by a unanimous vote of the delegates. “I’m excited to be back to Farm Bureau after three years off the board,” said Culp, who served as District 3 director on the Indiana Farm Bureau board for 12 years (the maximum number of years a district director can serve), ending in 2012. “I’m looking forward to working on ag issues with our members.” Culp, who at the time he was elected was also a director for Farm Credit MidAmerica, a Jasper County commissioner and a member of the Indiana Soybean Alliance board of directors, has resigned from the Farm Credit board. He added that he will take the next year to decide if he needs to give up anything else.

For this issue of The Hoosier Farmer, which (if all goes well) should be received by most members before Christmas, we wanted something special for page 1. So we posted a request on our Facebook page asking members to look through their photos of Christmas past to see if any seemed to exemplify a “country Christmas.” Here are two of the submissions we received. Top photo: John Deere Christmas magic photographed by Marybeth Feutz, Gibson County. Bottom photo: Some of the decorations at the farm of John Hoffherr, Vanderburgh County. The wreath, which was made by John, is 7 feet in diameter. More country Christmas photos can be seen on INFB’s Facebook page, Indiana Farm Bureau News.

Indiana Farm Bureau’s new officer team takes office Jan. 1. From left: Vice President-elect Kendell Culp, President-elect Randy Kron, and 2nd Vice President Isabella Chism. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

“The delegates have chosen their officer team, and I look forward to all we can accomplish together,” added Chism. “I am confident that our unique skills and experi-

ences will work together well to broaden our member engagement and clout not only in our communities but at the Statehouse as well.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

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

Development of PRRSv-resistant hogs a critical scientific breakthrough—The

Dec. 8 announcement of a health-enhanced pig able to resist Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus is a “critical scientific breakthrough in hog farmers’ battles against the disease and is a real game changer for the pork industry,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said in a statement. PRRSv is an incurable viral disease that causes reproductive failure in sows, reduces growth of young pigs and causes premature death in piglets. It also annually causes an estimated $664 million in lost productivity. “Being able to fight this disease through advanced genetic technologies will mean healthier animals, more efficient food production and more efficient risk management options for producers,” Stallman said. Animal genetics company Genus developed PRRSvresistant pigs in collaboration with the University of Missouri. Using precise gene editing, scientists bred

Helen Bailey was honored at the Floyd County Farm Bureau annual meeting as a 73-year member. Shown with her is county President Bob Geswein and Candice Cliff, news anchor for WDRB News in Louisville, who was the guest speaker. Helen and her twin sister were born in her parent’s house in New Albany on July 24, 1922. In 1942, she bought a light green Plymouth, needed car insurance, and chose Farm Bureau Insurance. Photo courtesy of Jamie Schilmiller

pigs that do not produce a specific protein necessary for the virus to spread in the animals. They are expected to be available to farmers in about five years. (AFBF 12/8/15)

Tis the season for agritourism—horse-

drawn carriages, countryside views – and of course, social media pictures capturing the scenery and bustling activity of holidays on the farm. Consumer interest in agriculture, especially during the fall and winter, provides farmers and ranchers a

Steuben County Farm Bureau gave away $5 coupons if shoppers could show President Ralph Holman their membership card. The coupons were good towards merchandise purchased at Steuben County Farmers’ Market on Oct. 31. The county also offered an “Ask A Farmer a Question” booth. Photo courtesy of Steuben County Farm Bureau 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 Harold Parker (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

December 21, 2015

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

Public Policy Team

Director............................................ Megan Ritter 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 Administrative Assistant ........... Wanda Hunter

unique opportunity to connect with non-ag consumers like never before, according to the American Farm Bureau. It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but when that picture is shared online by a farmer or rancher, it can be worth a million “likes.” As the holidays draw near, social media campaigns and hashtags, such as #ThankAFarmer, are a quick and easy way to educate people about where their food comes from and how it’s grown. The season offers unlimited options for engaging photos, from snow covering the fields to families sitting at the dinner table with the food they grew. Personal photos impact consumers. Sharing highquality photos with informative or personal captions on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can increase followers as well as consumer trust. (AFBF 12/10/15)

$1 billion in tariffs on beef, chicken and pork based on the last seven years of U.S. country-of-origin labeling requirements, farmers and ranchers are urging the Senate to act now to repeal the COOL mandate for beef, pork and chicken. If Canada and Mexico impose these tariffs, U.S. farmers and ranchers would be at serious risk, AFBF President Bob Stallman said in a statement. “AFBF supports countryof-origin labeling that meets WTO requirements, and we support the remaining COOL programs, but the risk of retaliation by Canada and Mexico is too great. U.S. farmers and ranchers could suffer a serious blow if Congress does not act quickly,” Stallman said. The House of Representatives in June passed a bill repealing mandatory labeling for beef, pork and chicken. (AFBF 12/8/15)

‘Food Science Fun’ connects students to science—The American

educational resource is a special project of the Foundation. The site and resources are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor DuPont Pioneer. To take advantage of the free My American Farm resources, games and activities, visit www. MyAmericanFarm.org. (AFBF 12/1/15)

American AgriWomen elects national officers—American Agri-Women (AAW) concluded its year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary and its Drive Across America at its annual convention held recently in Portland, Maine. The organization also elected its national officers and recognized outstanding advocates for agriculture. AAW is the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women representing more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliates. The convention’s theme was “Harvesting the Future” and was hosted by Maine Agri Women. The new American AgriWomen national officers for 2015-2016 are: Doris Mold, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Cumberland, Wisconsin, president; Heather Hampton-Knodle, Fillmore, Illinos, first vice president of resolutions & vital issues; Jane Marshall, Eaton, Ohio, vice president of communications; Donnell Scott, Vice President of Education, Manhattan, Kansas; Arlene Kovash, Monmouth, Oregon, secretary; Denise Gentsch, Austin, Texas, treasurer; Sue McCrum, Mars Hill, Maine, past-president. As part of the anniversary celebration, the Past Presidents Council unveiled a new history book “19952015 A Look Back at the Last 20 Years.” (AAW 12/1/15)

Trade Organization’s decision to allow Canada and Mexico to place more than

Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has launched a new resource on its My American Farm educational site aimed at connecting students to the science of food and food production. “Food Science Fun” is a new guide that contains 10 activities related to food science. The guide is designed to equip volunteers and professional educators with powerful tools for facilitating a food science day camp, or activities at a fair, other special event or in the classroom. The resources contained in the guide were pilottested at several science day camps in California and Indianapolis. Nearly 3,000 students were reached during the testing period. The “Food Science Fun” guide can be downloaded for free on the Fairs and Events Hands on Activities page on My American Farm. The My American Farm

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

Public Relations Team

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.

Farmers, ranchers call for quick senate action on COOL repeal—With the World

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 Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator............... Ashley Beasley Field Services Program Director..........................................Chris Fenner 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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IN THE STATEHOUSE

INFB outlines 2016 legislative priorities —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team Indiana Farm Bureau’s priority issues for the 2016 legislative session fall under five general policy areas. Those policy areas are summarized in the box on the right as a series of bullet points. But here is some additional explanation of those priorities from INFB’s public policy team. FARMLAND PROPERTY TAXES INFB wants a long-term fix to the farmland tax formula, specifically by moving the formula data ahead two years, changing a four-year delay to a two-year delay. Lower crop incomes must be reflected in the base formula as soon as possible, and the calculations must be stabilized by using a more consistent and real-world capitalization rate. At 2 percent, the circuit breakers/tax caps provide virtually no tax relief to farm property. The legislature should take a look at adopting lower circuit breakers for farmland, buildings and equipment. There will be a loss of revenue to local government from this change, so the changes should be phased-in as the tax cap for ag is phased-down. This year, state law provided more explicit definitions for what should qualify as farmland. Since many farmers still experience problems, INFB will seek further clarification and requirements that assessors review assessment of all parcels. In order to receive the amount of property tax relief needed in the ag sector, alternative funding tools for local government, and particularly schools, must be seriously weighed and implemented. TAX ASSESSMENTS, AUDITS & APPEALS Indiana’s property tax system has an issue with consistency of assessments. Assessing officials are highly scrutinizing what land is assessed as farmland. Assessors have also attempted to pump up the personal property portion of the tax base by hiring tax auditing firms that focused on farmers’ property. INFB is asking for a more transparent assessment process, a consistent application of assessment rules and a more effective appeal process for ordinary taxpayers, which includes eliminating any real or perceived conflicts of interest. Urgently, INFB members want to eliminate predatory local and state audits due to perceived targeting of the ag sector. TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE A conservative estimate of Indiana’s current state and local road funding gap is $1 billion annually. This estimate includes additional funding the state needs to maintain/ preserve its aging roads and bridge infrastructure but not the cost of new projects or upgrades. INFB members seek to create an INDOT advisory group that would provide Hoosiers more input on transportation policy matters and technical standards of INDOT-funded projects. ANNEXATION AND MUNICIPAL POWERS Individuals should have the power to choose or reject whether their property is absorbed into city limits without resorting to court review in which it is unlikely that the annexation will be overturned. Neither should the ability to defeat an annexation without going to court be hinged upon whether the annexing municipality declares the project to be for economic development purposes. Outside of their boundaries, municipalities should have little opportunity to control what individuals do with their private property. It is time to check municipal extraterritorial powers, through zoning or control of water, to ensure that the private property rights of non-municipal residents are not impeded. PROPERTY RIGHTS Preservation of individual property rights is a core objective of Indiana Farm Bureau. The use of privately owned property should not be restricted by law or regulation without just compensation paid to landowners.

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Statehouse visits amplify ag’s voice —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team The 2016 session of the Indiana General Assembly is fast approaching, so each county Farm Bureau is asked to coordinate their visit(s) to the Statehouse. Counties are encouraged to make multiple Statehouse visits if possible, preferably at least once in the first half of session (Jan. 5 – Feb. 3) and at least once in the second half of session (Feb. 8 – latest March 14), according to INFB’s public policy team. Members who participate will meet with INFB policy staff members the morning of their visit and receive an overview of Farm Bureau’s legislative agenda, as well as helpful talking points to use when speaking with lawmakers. Among the organizations that lobby at the Statehouse

every year, Indiana Farm Bureau has one of the most active and visible presences. Unlike many other groups, INFB members from all 92 counties show up to make their voices heard, the public policy team said. Legislators are accustomed to hearing from INFB’s lobbying team, but the lobby’s message is amplified exponentially when it is reinforced by members sharing their story with their elected officials in face-toface interactions. Although farmers do not make up a large percentage of the population, agriculture remains Indiana’s largest industry, generating a sizeable portion of the state’s revenue. INFB members showing up to the Statehouse in person puts a name and a face to this important constituency. In a marketplace of competing ideas, agriculture’s

important story must be told. It is critical that INFB members provide an alternative to the potentially louder voices that do not necessarily share Farm Bureau’s values of free enterprise, fiscal integrity, preservation of private property rights and the fostering of a positive environment for all forms of agriculture. Remember, if you are not at the table, you are likely on the menu. Statehouse visits are an excellent opportunity for INFB members to meet with their legislators and begin or build upon invaluable relationships, the public policy team said. Sharing Farm Bureau’s message and demonstrating the organization’s size, strength and commitment to civic engagement are all integral to achieving the larger goal of accomplishing INFB’s legislative priorities, now and in the future.

December 21, 2015

VILLWOCK TRIBUTE

Back an

Villwock looks back at his years in F —Stories by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Don Villwock steps down as president of Indiana Farm Bureau on Jan. 1. He talked with me in early December about how Farm Bureau has affected his life, his hopes for Farm Bureau’s future, and his own hopes for a future in Farm Bureau. Following is an edited version of that conversation. KMD: How did you get involved with Farm Bureau? DV: In 1980, Joyce and I were asked by my fieldman (now called regional managers) if we’d like to be on the State Young Farmer Committee. That same year, I won the Discussion Meet and we were runnersup in the Young Farmer Achievement Award. So we went from never being at a Farm Bureau meeting to being very engaged in Farm Bureau. KMD: Did you have an initial goal when you first got involved?

DV: I really didn’t know what Farm Bureau was. We were kind of looking at it as a vacation – four meetings a year in Indianapolis with Indiana Farm Bureau paying our hotel room and paying our way to the national convention. Neither of us had ever been on an airplane. It was a mega-leap from being on the farm in Edwardsport to traveling the United States. But then we found out what Farm Bureau was involved in and that it was an organization with the same values we had. And we found out that there were events outside our control that were affecting the profitability of our farm. KMD: How would you summarize what Farm Bureau has done for you? DV: Through its policies and opportunities to network with other farmers, Farm Bureau has increased the profitability of our farm. It’s reduced expenses, controlled regulations, and helped increase prices.

And the information sharing that goes on at meetings has made me a better farmer – and really a better person. This job has also allowed me to meet a lot of great folks in all walks of life – in Indianapolis, across the state and the nation. And in my AFBF roles, I’ve literally traveled the world. I don’t know how many countries I’ve been in which, if I were just Farmer Don, I wouldn’t have. That’s one of the things that I’ve enjoyed the most. KMD: Have you done what you set out to do? DV: My No. 1 goal was to make Indiana Farm Bureau the best that it could be with the resources it had – and hopefully the best Farm Bureau in the U.S. I think we’ve achieved that on numerous occasions. We

probably get as much or more accomplished than anybody, and that includes states that have three times the staff. I am very proud of our lobbying efforts – not only of our lobbying team but also our members. For being such a minority of the population, we do extremely well, and that’s because our members are engaged. KMD: What have been Farm Bureau’s main accomplishments during your tenure as president? DV: We led the effort to establish the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, and we were instrumental in the elimination of the inheritance tax and the establishment of the grain indemnity fund. The disappointment is that we’ve not been able to get a permanent fix

Joyce, Sarah and Don Villwock when they were featured as finalists in the Young Farmer Achievement Award in the February 1981 issue of The Hoosier Farmer. Indiana Farm Bureau photo

Don and Joyce Villwock as members of the State Young Farmer Committee. Indiana Farm Bureau photo

Alix Steel of Bloomberg News interviews Don Villwock at the 2012 Indiana State Fair on the effects of the drought while producer Misha Rondeau acts as cameraman. Photo by Mindy Reef

December 21, 2015

INFB President Don Villwock is ending his “35-year journey” with Indiana Farm Bureau on Jan. 1, but he hopes to continue with Farm Bureau in another capacity – that of American Farm Bureau president. The election is slated for Jan. 12. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

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VILLWOCK TRIBUTE

nd Forth

Farm Bureau and ponders the future to the property tax problem. But it’s not because we haven’t tried. KMD: Since 1919. DV: (laughs) Yes, since 1919. We’re not alone – it’s not just the Villwock administration that has struggled with the property tax problem. It’s everyone since President Brown. KMD: What are your hopes for INFB’s next few years? DV: That we can finally convince the legislature that we need permanent property tax relief. The legislature, although it has only two active farmers, is starting to realize that property taxes are unfair and out of control. I think member engagement through meetings, phone calls, emails and social media is on the increase. I said early on that although we have 70,000 voting members, we need 10,000 engaged members. We’re probably not there, but we have more folks involved at the local level. KMD: Your original plan when you announced your retirement was to go back to being Farmer Don of Villwock Farms. Why did you decide to run for AFBF president? DV: First, Bob Stallman said he

wasn’t going to run – which was a surprise – and second, Farm Bureau presidents in Southern states asked me to run. The politics of the American Farm Bureau are that you almost have to be from the South to get elected because that’s where the political power is. But when the Southern presidents said “We’ll help you,” that was the tipping point for me. KMD: What’s the campaign been like? DV: It’s exhausting – I’ll say that upfront. Traveling to multiple states while still state president and farming is quite intimidating, to say the least. But I have met some great people with some great ideas. They want AFBF to remain the most powerful ag organization in the world. Meeting those folks has been the fun part of the campaign.

I hope to build a better collaboration with the other national ag organizations. We’ve had tremendous success with Indiana’s Family of Farmers. Working together has worked extremely well, and I think that can be duplicated at the national level. KMD: What are your big-picture hopes for the future? DV: To get farmers and ranchers across the country to realize how important a role they individually play. They can move the needle faster and farther than the national president can if they’re engaged. If farmers aren’t profitable, they aren’t sustainable. That’s what it boils down to: Helping them have an adequate income for themselves and their families.

And on a bigger scale, there are going to be 9 billion people to feed. We need to double the amount of food production we’ve had since the beginning of time to feed this growing global population. We’re all in this together in agriculture, and there’s room in the tent for everyone – organic, conventional, large, small, row crops, fruits and vegetables and livestock. KMD: Any final thoughts? DV: I’ve made a lot of friends in Farm Bureau. We are a family, and I’m going to miss them all. In my 14 years as president, I’ve averaged 35,000-40,000 miles a year driving. I won’t miss the commute, but I’ll miss seeing all those farmers along the way.

KMD: What are your goals if elected? DV: The No. 1 goal is to educate and empower members by helping state Farm Bureaus. That grassroots support is critical for any legislative or regulatory success that we have. We need to empower our members so they feel comfortable engaging the movers and shakers and decision-makers.

Indiana Farm Bureau’s officer team at the 2014 state convention: Second Vice President Isabella Chism, President Don Villwock and Vice President Randy Kron. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

AFBF campaign a ‘huge opportunity,’ Joyce Villwock says

Don Villwock receives the AgriVision Award from Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann last summer. From left: Ted McKinney, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Villwock and his wife, Joyce; and Ellspermann. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

Villwock on an agricultural trade mission to China in 2010.

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Before she and Don Villwock got married, Joyce Villwock said, he used to claim “As a farmer, I’ll never be farther away than the back 40 if you need me.” It hasn’t really worked out that way. “I stayed a little closer to home with my activities just because he was traveling,” she said. “But I was more than willing because I believe in what he’s doing.” They met at Purdue, where Don was one year ahead of her. While Joyce grew up in the country (in New Alsace, Dearborn County), it wasn’t on a farm. Perhaps this worried Don a little because during the year he was getting started farming and she was finishing her degree, he used to write letters that included a “farm quiz.” “I like to think it was because he wanted me to be educated about what he did and understand what I was getting into,” she said, but it “may have been because he didn’t want me to embarrass him.” The couple married in 1973, right after Joyce graduated. She then

taught home economics at the junior high level before their two daughters were born. She got her master’s degree, taught at Vincennes University and eventually managed a six-county Meals on Wheels program. Shortly after Don was elected president, “We decided one of us needed to be home a little more… so I work for Villwock Farms now,” she said. Don describes her as “the CFO,” and her duties include acting as “gofer,” but also banking, accounting, paperwork, and communicating with landlords. “I tell people the pay’s not as good but the perks are better,” she said. Now Don is running for AFBF president, which Joyce describes as a “huge opportunity.” “The other thing is I didn’t want him to ever look back and say ‘Well, what if?’” she said. Even if he doesn’t win, there is no real downside, she added. “He’s got a lot of fun things he loves to do on the farm, and so if he’s back home on the farm full time, he’ll be happy,” she said.

December 21, 2015

AROUND FARM BUREAU

Fulton County wins award for creative program —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team Twenty-eight county Farm Bureaus nationwide, including one from Indiana, were recognized by the American Farm Bureau for innovative program ideas in this year’s County Activities of Excellence Awards program. The winners will be highlighted during AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 8-13 in Orlando, Florida. Fulton County Farm Bureau received an award in the Education and Ag

Promotion category for its county fair scavenger hunt. Because the Fulton County Fair doesn’t have a midway, they came up with the scavenger hunt as a way to entertain and educate the children who came to the fair. There were eight stops along the trail where children and their parents had to find the answer to a question about agriculture. Each stop also offered a photo opportunity and fun educational materials for kids to take home, including books, coloring books, soy crayons and temporary tattoos. Those who

completed the scavenger hunt were entered into a drawing for a larger ag-related prize. “Our county Farm Bureau’s mission is to promote and support agriculture, and we think our scavenger hunt fit into that mission,” said Jennifer Richter, county president. “We heard many comments from children and parents about how much they learned and how much fun they had.” For more information on the CAE program or this year’s winners, visit www. fb.org/newsroom/news_article/362/.

Each stop also offered activities that included a photo opportunity and fun educational materials for kids to take home. Photo courtesy of the Fulton County Farm Bureau

AFBF convention just weeks away —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team The AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show is drawing near. It will be held Jan. 8-13 in Orlando, Florida. Nearly 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to

gather in Orlando to participate in a grassroots policysetting process that will guide AFBF through 2016. This year’s keynote speaker will be real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran. The annual Indiana breakfast will be held at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11. Tickets are

don@donvillwock.com facebook.com/Don4Prez @farmerdon72 Don Villwock (channel)

www.donvillwock.com December 21, 2015

$30 and must be purchased in advance. INFB will also have a booth in the trade show. Stop by for free popcorn and to show your support for President Villwock’s campaign to become AFBF president. The annual delegate session will be Jan. 12 starting at 8 a.m. Besides deciding on the policy that will guide Farm Bureau through the next year, the session will also feature the election of a new AFBF president to replace Bob Stallman, who has headed the organization since 2000 and announced this summer that he’s stepping down. For information specific to INFB members, visit INFB’s website, www.infb.org, and click on the link for the AFBF annual meeting, found under the “Events” tab in the gray bar near the top of the website’s front page. A full agenda and more information about the convention are available online at annualconvention.fb.org/.

One of the stops on Fulton County Farm Bureau’s county fair scavenger hunt. This is one of eight stops along a trail designed to let kids have some fun and learn about agriculture at the same time. Photo courtesy of the Fulton County Farm Bureau

New Young Farmer leaders take office —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team When INFB’s state convention officially ended, three young farmers assumed new roles on the Young Farmer Committee. Michael Holman will serve as the chairman of the Young Farmer Committee for 2016. Nick Wenning was elected vice chairman, and Jamie Schilmiller will serve as secretary. Holman and his wife Kara farm 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in Angola. He serves on the Steuben County Farm Bureau board and is an involved member of his community. He and his wife have three children. Nick Wenning and his wife Julie have a 650-acre grain farm in Greensburg. They also run a custom seeding and harvesting business and raise 10,000 freshwater shrimp. Nick serves his county Farm Bureau in

several capacities and is also involved with the Decatur County Soil and Water Conservation District. The Wennings have three children. “I hope to use my leadership position to encourage more young farmers to become actively involved in Farm Bureau,” Wenning said. “We want to build on the successes of previous committees.” Jamie Schilmiller and her husband Tom raise corn, soybeans, hay, and around 35,000 pumpkins. They also have a small herd of Angus cattle. Jamie has served on the Floyd County board and is a graduate of INFB’s Leaders in Action program. She and her husband have three children. “Our collective goal is to increase awareness and support for the INFB Young Farmer program,” said Schilmiller. “We also hope to inspire new ideas for programs and outreach so the program continues to grow.”

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COMMUNICATION

Blogger program tries to influence the influencers —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team There are a sizeable number of people in America today who don’t know how to cook a roast. Or sew on a button. Or figure out what “Gluten Free” really means. This isn’t their fault. Maybe their parents never taught them – or didn’t know themselves. And they probably had no formal instruction in what used to be called “home ec.” For this group, the natural

thing to do is Google how to cook a roast and then see what pops up. That’s the group – and a large and influential group it is – that social media speaks to. And that’s the group that the online presence programs sponsored by Indiana’s Family of Farmers (a coalition that includes Farm Bureau and other farm groups) speak to as well. “Five years ago, the Center for Food Integrity saw that getting this kind information online was a growing trend,” said Andy Dietrick, INFB public relations director. “That’s why IFOF moved in that direction.” Rather than trying to create a direct line of communication with those who want to know how to cook a roast, sew on a button or make good food choices, what IFOF does is work with online communicators – bloggers, in other words. Make no mistake, in terms of media, blogging is the big time. “Indiana has a wonderful group of Indiana women bloggers who are building their own empires, who now today are involved in traditional media in addition to social media,” said Cris Goode, who helps coordinate IFOF’s

online presence programs. “They have social media presences that are of large magnitude – reaching millions. They have a lot of influence online.” Their influence goes beyond explaining how to cook a roast, noted Goode and Liz Kelsay, who also works on IFOF’s online presence program. With a really effective blog, a community forms, and the members of that community talk to and influence each other. “We have always tried to work with…people who don’t want to get tangled up in the arguments. They just want to feed their family,” Goode said, “and they want to know what’s safe, and they want to know what they can trust and what they can’t. “We want to be there building relationships with them and the people who influence them – to help them know that farmers do exist online and they can connect with them,” she added. “That they don’t have to just trust somebody who once visited a farm. They can actually talk to the farmer.” IFOF started out working with ag women interested in blogging, and it still does. But the program has evolved

Who’s who at INFB

New District 1 Director Harold Parker —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team A new face took the helm of Indiana Farm Bureau’s District 1 at the fall of the gavel at state convention. While LaPorte County farmer Harold Parker been a member since 1981, he owes his recent engagement to his daughter and son-inlaw and a former county leader. “Mark and Denise [Scarborough] encouraged me to get more involved in Farm Bureau,” he said. “Dave Scarborough, past president of LaPorte County Farm Bureau, asked me to get involved locally and put me on the LaPorte County board.” Parker farms with his son, Tom. They grow tomatoes for Red Gold, commercial corn, seed corn, and soybeans. He served as LaPorte County Farm Bureau president and as a commodity committee chair prior to being elected district director. He also traveled to Germany and Belgium in 2015 with INFB’s Agricultural Leader-

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Support agriculture and honor President Villwock by donating to the Donald B. and Joyce A. Villwock Scholarship Fund at Purdue. Talk to your regional manager or visit www.infb.org and look under the About Us menu – Grants/ Scholarships to learn more about donating to the fund, which offers scholarship support for Indiana students majoring in agriculture economics at the Purdue campus in West Lafayette. Donations can be made until Dec. 31, 2015.

and now offers workshops that cover topics of importance to the bloggers and their businesses, such as photography or how to monetize their sites; partnership opportunities for ag and non-ag bloggers; and events such as farm tours. They try to tailor content to the bloggers themselves. It wouldn’t make any sense to try to entice a blogger who writes about saving money on household expenses to do something on food safety because that’s not what her readers are after. “We love to find ways to work with the bloggers that fit what their audiences are interested in,” Kelsay said. From the beginning the approach has been to position IFOF and ag bloggers as resources for the non-ag

bloggers. Any instruction has always been handled in a very low-key way. “We could not have these conversations that we’re having now if we hadn’t had the years of building the relationships and networking and getting everybody to know each other,” said Kelsay. “And now we really can have those tougher conversations…We can talk about GMOs, we can talk about antibiotics, we can talk about those things that are all things that are buzzing in the media because we do have those relationships.” —————————— Editor’s note: This is part I in a series on the importance of blogging in the modern media landscape. The second part will run in the next issue of The Hoosier Farmer.

Harold Parker, who became District 1 director at the fall of the gavel at this year’s state convention, and his wife Jane pose with their family. Photo courtesy of the Parker family

ship Exchange program. Outside of Farm Bureau, Parker is involved in the LaPorte County Plan Commission; LaPorte County 4-H swine and auction committees and 4-H council; Bethany Lutheran Church council; and LaPorte County Row Crop Food Producers. He counts spending time with wife, Jane, and his

three grandchildren among his hobbies. Parker’s daughter, Denise Scarborough, and her husband, Mark, have two children: Madison and Parker; son Tom has one child, Aubrina. Parker also enjoys snowmobiling. District 1 covers Fulton, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Porter, Pulaski, St. Joseph and Starke counties.

Farm Bureau member Julie Berlet from Walton is the lucky winner of popcorn for a year from Indiana Farm Bureau and Preferred Popcorn. More than 400 packets of microwave popcorn were delivered to Julie and her husband, Jeff, ensuring the family will enjoy the healthy treat throughout 2016. Julie entered the popcorn giveaway at the Indiana State Fair in August, where INFB dished out more than 29,000 servings of Preferred Popcorn to fairgoers in the Farm Bureau Building. Julie’s granddaughter Chloe seems pretty happy with the arrangement. Photo by Andy Dietrick

December 21, 2015

AROUND INFB

Reduction in RFS will slow growth of renewable fuels, ag economy —From the AFBF Communications Department EPA’s Nov. 30 decision to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard “undermines our nation’s commitment to advancing biofuels and establishing energy independence,” according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “Biofuels have been a homegrown energy success story for the U.S. and our rural economies. The RFS has produced jobs, decreased reliance on foreign oil and

contributed to cleaner air,” he continued in a statement. EPA’s new mandate requires refiners to mix a total of 18.11 billion gallons of biofuels-corn ethanol, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol-into the country’s fuel market in 2016, which is well below the 22.3 billion gallons required under a 2007 law. EPA set the volume for corn-based ethanol at 14.5 billion gallons. That’s 500 million gallons below its target under the law. “We need more biofuels, not less, and Farm Bureau

called on EPA earlier this year to protect the RFS,” Stallman said. “We are disappointed to see the agency move forward with a decision that will stall growth and progress in renewable fuels as well as the broader agricultural economy. “Farmers, ranchers and consumers will be impacted by the drop in ethanol production and the falloff in livestock feed that goes along with it. In the end, we lose the jobs and stability that come from growing renewable fuel,” he concluded.

Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium set for Jan. 5 —From Purdue Ag Communication Commercial vegetable farmers and market gardeners will have networking opportunities and get tips on how to improve their business when they meet at the Illiana Vegetable Growers Symposium. The event will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CST) Jan. 5 at Teibel’s Restaurant, 1775 U.S. 41, Schererville. The program is a collaboration of Purdue and the University of Illinois Extension services. Presenters will include several Extension

specialists from both universities. Some highlighted presentations will be new pollinator regulations, an update on the Food Safety Modernization Act, cucurbit insect management, an update on Purdue horticulture, drift recovery and how to eliminate weed competition. There will also be a session during which participants can choose a presentation on either the introduction of Purdue’s FoodLink, point-of-sale systems for small businesses and effective uses of social media or year-round vegetable

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December 21, 2015

production in high tunnels, hydroponics and tips for soil health in organic systems. Indiana private applicator recertification credits are available for a $10 fee at the door. Indiana commercial pesticide applicator continuing certification hours and certified crop adviser continuing education units also are available. Registration in advance costs $25. The deadline for advance registration through the mail has passed; the deadline for advance registration online is Dec. 23. Participants can also register at the door for $30, but they will not be guaranteed lunch. Registration is available online, by printing the registration form at http://bit. ly/1jxevc6, or by contacting Nikky Witkowski at 219755-3240 or nikky@purdue. edu. For other information, contact Liz Maynard at 219548-3674 or emaynard@ purdue.edu. Sponsors are Austgen Farms and the Lake, La Porte and Kankakee County Farm Bureaus.

Members of Congress, states and business urge Supreme Court to review EPS’s latest Clean Water Act overreach —From the AFBF Communications Department A crush of supporters filed friend-of-the-court briefs on Dec. 9, joining the American Farm Bureau Federation in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to micromanage state land-use and development decisions under the guise of the Chesapeake Bay water quality “blueprint.” Filers included 92 members of Congress, 22 states, forestry groups represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, and a broad crosssection of the U.S. economy represented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business. “The fact that so many voices are being raised in support of Supreme Court review shows the broad and severe threat that EPA’s action here poses nationwide,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “EPA has asserted powers that do not appear in any law written by Congress, and it has done so in the context of an iconic national treasure, hoping that will inoculate its power grab in the courts. We have faith that the nation’s highest court will see this for what it is and hold EPA accountable to stay within its statutory authority.” Despite aggressive new commitments and water quality achievements by the six states in the Bay watershed in the mid-2000s, the EPA asserted federal control over the Chesapeake Bay recovery in its 2010

“blueprint.” The new federal plan effectively gives EPA the ability to function as a super-zoning authority over local and state governments-dictating where homes can be built, where land can be farmed, and where commercial development can occur. The plan will impose tens of billions of dollars in direct costs – with unknown economic impacts on local communities and economies. It also denies state and local governments and businesses the flexibility to adapt to new circumstances, instead locking in limits that can quickly become outdated but can only be revised by EPA. The lower courts upheld EPA’s blueprint on the theory that it furthers the water quality goals of the Clean Water Act, despite the absence of words in the statute authorizing such federal action. A significant issue presented for the Supreme Court is the degree to which courts should defer to broad agency interpretations of their statutory power. “The broad support for the Farm Bureau petition shows that deep concerns about the Bay blueprint go far beyond agriculture and far beyond the Bay region,” said AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen. “Members of Congress, states and business groups recognize that this illegal framework will be imposed throughout the country unless the Court intervenes. Given the enormous social and economic consequences, not to mention the grave questions about federalism and deference to agency overreaching, this is a case that cries out for Supreme Court review.”

Calendar of Events

January 6 Legislative kick-off, Indianapolis. 8-13 AFBF Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Orlando, Florida. 28, 29 Joint meeting of the INFB board and Women’s Leadership Committee. 29-31 INFB Young Farmer Conference, Indianapolis.

February 2, 3 State Women’s Leadership Committee meeting. 13-16 AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference, Kansas City, Missouri. 7, 18 INFB Board of Directors meeting.