The Hoosier Farmer - Issue 77 by Indiana Farm Bureau

Spring Conference, Young Farmer Conference Page 3

Officers Profiled Pages 4, 5

New Membership Campaign Page 7

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

The Hoosier Farmer

A Publication for Voting Members of Indiana Farm Bureau

FEBRUARY 15, 2016 Issue No. 77

Farm Bureau approves strategic action plan for 2016 —From the AFBF Communications Department The American Farm Bureau Federation has released its 2016 strategic action plan, which prioritizes public policy issues for the coming year. The plan is a result of deliberations of delegates to the AFBF’s 97th annual convention in Orlando. Approved by the AFBF Board of Directors at its post-convention meeting, the plan focuses the organization’s attention on a number of key issues including: Creating a more-positive dialogue with consumers about modern agricultural practices. Protecting farmers’ ability to use biotech plant varieties and other innovative technologies. Opposing unlawful expansion of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Moving forward with congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. The Environmental Protection Agency’s new Waters of the U.S. rule remains among the most pressing issues in agriculture. Although presented as a water issue, the measure in fact would, in violation of the Clean Water Act, unlawfully regulate land. The rule takes over local and state authority while threatening private property rights and normal farming activity nationwide. “EPA’s blatant overreach is nothing short of a federal land grab,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The Indiana Farm Bureau P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206

administration has refused to listen to business owners, local governments and lawmakers. The courts have ordered this rule temporarily stopped. The Government Accountability Office found EPA’s actions illegal, and Congress – which originally gave EPA its authority under the Clean Water Act – called for an end to this rule. We won’t give up until it’s gone and farmers are free to care for their own land.” AFBF’s action plan also supports agricultural biotechnology that promises great benefits for agriculture, con-

sumers and the environment. The AFBF board reaffirmed its commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. The board approved an additional list of issues that will require close monitoring as they develop over the course of 2016. Those issue areas include food safety, advancing legislation that addresses agriculture’s long- and short-term labor needs, implementing business tax reform, monitoring the overall farm economy, and energy availability and affordability.

Senator Jim Buck speaks with INFB Second Vice President Isabella Chism, Tipton County President Jenny Mundell and Tipton County education and outreach coordinator Elsa Smith at Legislator Appreciation Day, held at the Statehouse on Feb. 2. The Indiana Women’s Leadership Committee and farm women from around the state handed out sugar cream pies and talked to their legislators about INFB’s priority issues. Photo by Rachel Schrage

2016 legislative session reaches halfway point —By Jay A. Wood Public Relations Team The 2016 session has reached its halfway point, and the hard work of INFB’s lobbying team has resulted in movement on the organization’s top legislative priorities and other important ag-related bills. But while INFB priority bills have passed their first house, they must be passed by the second house to become law. It is therefore crucial for INFB members to remain engaged and continue to reinforce the organization’s priorities by making contacts at home and visiting their legislators at the Statehouse. Here are some of the bills that INFB is watching closely: Farmland Property Taxes SB 308 (authored by Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek; sponsored by Rep. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

Berne, IN Permit NO. 43

Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville) – Helps fix the farmland tax formula by matching the base value more closely with a farmer’s ability to pay. When calculating the base rate for agricultural land for the Jan. 1, 2017, assessment date and each assessment date thereafter, the Department of Local Government Finance must: Use the six most recent years preceding the year when the assessment date occurs (before the highest of those six years is eliminated when determining the rolling average). Use a capitalization rate of at least 8 percent. For purposes of calculating a base rate, recalculate certain prior base rates that are used in the rolling average by using a capitalization rate of at least 8 percent. Tax Assessments, Audits & Appeals HB 1215 (authored by Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield; sponsored by Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield) – Gives members of the farming community an opportunity to air their concerns about personal property audits that are targeting every farmer in a county. The legislation tweaks the Heritage Barn program and calls for a

study committee on business personal property audits being done by contractors rather than county assessors. Transportation & Infrastructure HB 1001 (authored by Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso; sponsored by Se. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville) – Provides additional funds for local roads and more tools for local officials to address their specific needs and includes a 5 percent phasedown of the state income tax. This provision would complete a legislative objective of Gov. Pence’s first-year promise to lower the state’s income tax by 10 percent. For state and local road funding needs, the bill: taps excess reserves; establishes local options (e.g. local option income taxes and city wheel tax) and matching grants; redirects gas sales tax to roads and bridges; indexes fuel taxes to restore lost buying power; and provides new Medicaid funding (e.g. $1 tax on each cigarette pack) to relieve general fund for infrastructure. SB 67 (authored by Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek; sponsored by Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville) – Distributes local option income tax reserves

currently held by the state to counties, cities and towns. SB 333 (authored by Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury; sponsored by Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville) – Provides that when state reserves exceed 11.5 percent of general revenue appropriations, those excess reserves must be transferred to the state highway fund for road and bridge repair. HB 1112 (authored by Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart; sponsored by Sen. Joe Zakas, R-Granger) – Urges the Legislative Council to assign to assign the topic of transportation advisory boards to a summer study committee. Although it doesn’t fit into one of INFB’s priority categories, food safety has become an issue this session. HB 1267 (authored by Rep. Don Lehe, R-Brookston; sponsored by Sen. Pat Miller, R-Indianapolis) provides that a food establishment may not sell or serve a meat product, poultry or game animal that is intended for human food unless inspections have been conducted under a state inspection program. INFB does not support favoring one size farm over another and has the primary interest of protecting the general public’s health.

NEWS IN BRIEF

News Bites

Lake Resort is $99 per night. Reservations can be made by calling 574-935-5680.

—Compiled by Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team

(Purdue 1/26/16)

Midwest Mint Growers annual meeting scheduled for Plymouth—Mid-

west mint growers will gather Feb. 25 and 26 in northern Indiana to learn various topics about production of the plant. The meeting is hosted by the Indiana Mint Market Development and Research Council, Agricultural Research at Purdue and Purdue Extension. It will be held at Swan Lake Resort, 5203 Plymouth-LaPorte Trail. Mint has been a staple crop in northwestern and north-central Indiana since the late 1800s because of the favorable soil types and relatively high water in the area. It also does well in southern Michigan and Wisconsin. Mint is primarily grown for its oil, which is used as flavoring for gum and candy, toothpaste and other oral hygiene products, and in the pharmaceutical industry. Indiana ranks fourth in peppermint production and fifth in spearmint production in the United States. The meeting will cover topics including weed management, crop insurance, pest control and industry updates. Presentations from several Purdue specialists with expertise in economics, equipment, growing and processing will be included in the meeting. On Feb. 25, guest speaker Noel Stuckman, a longtime mint grower from Michigan, will deliver an after-dinner talk about mint production in the 1940s. Registration is $40 before Feb. 19 and $45 for registrations after that date. For more information visit https://ag.purdue.edu/arp/ Pages/Mint.aspx or call Jerry Fankhauser at 765494-8368. Lodging at Swan

Administrative/Finance Team

President............................................Randy Kron Vice President.................................Kendell Culp 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

February 15, 2016

Enter American Farm Bureau’s #iAdvocate photo contest—Farmers and ranch-

ers are invited to share their stories about advocating for agriculture with the American Farm Bureau Federation as part of the organization’s just-launched #iAdvocate campaign. Ten lucky contest winners will each receive a $100 Farm Bureau Bank gift card. To enter, message a photo of yourself advocating for agriculture to the Farm Bureau Promotion & Education

and sort through the oceans of data that stream from farm equipment into the cloud every day. The survey aims to gauge farmer attitudes towards big data and the use of data in production agriculture. For more on the survey, and to find a link to the survey page, read the Feb. 2 issue of AFBF’s Newsline, www.fb.org/newsroom/ newsclip/020216/. (AFBF 2/3/16)

Fort Wayne-area farmers direct $20,000 in donations to local nonprofits— Indiana farmers have directed $20,000 to area nonprofit organizations through

INFB’s policy advisory groups have begun their work for 2016, examining policy issues of interest to Farm Bureau. Here Kyle Cline (left), INFB national government relations policy advisor, talks to Larry Huffmeyer of Ripley County prior to the start of the crops and farm policy PAG meeting. In the background are Mark Seib of Posey County and Ed Yanos of Henry County. Photo by Jay A. Wood

Facebook page at www. facebook.com/FarmBureauPandE. Photo entries should include an #iAdvocate white board or sign with a brief explanation of what you’re doing. (AFBF 2/5/16)

asking farmers to take a survey to share their thoughts and experiences with ag tech providers that collect

America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The winning farmers and organizations participated in a presentation at the Fort Wayne Farm Show on Jan. 13. Each farmer directed a $2,500 Grow Communities donation to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Winners include: Cory Cox of Whitley County, who directed his donation to the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department;

Indiana Farm Bureau Inc./ Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance

Direct Retail Business Specialist....... Bob White Public Policy Intern........................ Shelby Swain

Farm Bureau seeks farmers’ thoughts on big data—Farm Bureau is

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 Administrative Assistant ............. Diane Helton Administrative Assistant ........... Wanda Hunter Senior Policy Advisor & Counsel................................... Justin Schneider Livestock Development Specialist... Greg Slipher

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 Women’s Leadership Program Coordinator............... Ashley Beasley Field Services Program Director..........................................Chris Fenner Membership Sales & Marketing Coordinator................Chelsea Poe Young Farmer & Youth Program Coordinator..................... Allie Rieth

Jerry Ness, Noble County, Noble County Community Foundation; John Maddox, Wells County, Southern Wells Jr.-Sr. High School athletic department; Marvin Werling, Allen County, Central Lutheran School; Michael Werling, Adams County, Tri-State Water Shed Alliance; and Richard Kummer, DeKalb County, East Side High School FFA. America’s Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers in Indiana and Ohio to donate over $2.7 million to local community organizations since 2010. Donations have been used to help fight rural hunger, purchase life-saving equipment, support ag youth programs, purchase education classroom resources and more. America’s Farmers Grow Communities partners with farmers to support local nonprofit causes that positively impact farming communities across rural America. Grow Communities is one program in the America’s Farmers community outreach effort, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, which have donated more than $32 million to rural America since 2010. Other programs include America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, which encourages rural youth to remain in agriculture and provides $1,500 college scholarships to high school and college students pursuing ag-related degrees; and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, which works with farmers to nominate rural school districts to compete for $10,000 and $25,000 math and science grants. Visit www.AmericasFarmers.com to learn more. Now through April 1 farmers in eligible counties (a category that includes a number of counties in Indiana) can nominate their local school district to compete for an America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education grant at www.GrowRuralEducation.com. (Monsanto Fund

Dairy group honors farmers—Da-

vid Ring of Dubois County was honored as “Producer of the Year” and Orville Haney of Kosciusko County was honored as “Young Producer of the Year” by Indiana Dairy Producers. Ring farms with his son, Brent, and they have a dairy farm, as well as turkey and grain operations. In addition, David taught high school ag for 16 years. Haney farms with his father Kevin and his brother Jeremiah. They milk 140 cows, and with their feedlot and young stock maintain about 600 total head. They farm 850 acres and sell milk, beef, corn, hay, and breeding stock. (IDP 2/5/16)

Purdue offers workshop on family business management—Purdue Extension

and the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics will host a twoday workshop to help family businesses manage the intricacies of their operations. “Keeping the Business in Your Family” will be March 3-4 on the Purdue campus. The workshop will provide information on an array of topics related to family business management, including communication, developing a shared vision, assessing resources, legal matters and family succession. Registration deadline is Feb. 19 (very shortly after many readers are scheduled to receive this issue of The Hoosier Farmer). For more information, contact Marsha Pritchard at 765-494-0889. Further details, including a registration form and hotel information, are available online at ag.purdue.edu/ agecon/Documents/FBWBrochure.pdf. (Purdue 2/3/16)

1/14/16)

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.

Wayne Belden (1 & 3) Greg Bohlander (6) Andrew Cleveland (4 & 6) Casie Conley (4) 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) 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 2016. All rights reserved.

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AROUND INFB

INFB Spring Conference has ‘agventures’ for everyone —By Mindy Reef Public Relations Team Farm Bureau members still have a few days to sign up for the organization’s annual Spring Conference, March 4 and 5 at the Indianapolis Marriott East. “AgVentures: Something for Everyone” is the conference theme, which is reflected in many of the breakouts sessions and speakers. The conference also offers opportunities to visit and network with other members. Some of the highlights: • Workshops on Friday and

breakouts on Saturday fit into three tracks: home/ health, education/communication and farm/ business. Featured topics include idea-sharing roundtables, scholarships and two sessions on Ag in the Classroom. • A private applicator recertification program is available on Friday. The program spreads across two breakout time blocks; participants must attend both sessions to get PARP credit. The fee is $10 at the door. • Friday night offers recognition for Ag in the Class-

room, including scholarship awards for teachers and volunteers to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference, Reaching Out Awards and the AITC Volunteer of the Year. Other awards presented include the two Ag Education and Promotion Development Grant winners. • Motivational speaker Paul Vitale is the keynote for Friday night’s session. • A presentation from the 2015 Agriculture Cultural Exchange Ambassador winners takes place at 7:15 Saturday morning,

followed by the announcement of the 2016 ACE Ambassadors. • The conference ends with motivational speaker Dale Henry. • Live and silent auctions will benefit the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund. Hotel reservations must be made by Feb. 18 to receive the Farm Bureau rate. Registration for the event is open until Feb. 26. Visit

www.infb.org/springconf for more information and to register.

2016 Young Farmer Conference

Three eligible bachelorettes try to win the heart of an eligible bachelor during The Dating Game on Saturday night of Young Farmer Conference. Photo by Rachel Schrage Morgan County was recognized as the most improved county Young Farmer program. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

The conference included many educational opportunities. Here a group participates in a round-table discussion on the Indiana Grown program led by Bob White, INFB direct retail business specialist. Photo by Jay A. Wood Members of the Fisher and Redding families from District 6 work together during Canstruction to build what ultimately became a farmstead complete with barn, truck, grain leg and propane tank. District 6’s creation earned the most votes in the Canstruction contest, which yielded 5,000 cans of food and a $1,500 donation to food banks. A live auction on Saturday evening brought in $1,560 for Gleaners and $910 for Bread of Life Ministry in Lynnville. The silent auction held during the event raised $2,363 for Gleaners. Photo by Mindy Reef

www.thehoosierfarmer.com

Jasper County Young Farmers, represented here by Darin Gudeman (left), chairman of the county YF committee, was recognized as “most outstanding” Young Farmer program at the 2016 Young Farmer conference. Shown with Gudeman is Michael Holman, chairman of the INFB Young Farmer Committee. Runners-up were Tipton and Spencer counties. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

Also recognized during the conference were Dubois, Warrick and Wayne counties, which received the Awakening Award. This award recognizes county Young Farmer programs that are new or have not applied for the contest in the last three years. Three counties were recognized for their contributions to the Feeding America program: Henry County for donating the most money (collecting $12,003); Morgan County as the top county in pounds of food donated (150 pounds); and Tipton County for most hours donated (young farmers there offered 500 hours of their time).

February 15, 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE

Introducing IN

On these two pages are profiles of the members of Indiana Farm Bureau’s new officer team: President Randy Kron and Vice President Kendell Culp, who took office Jan. 1, and Second Vice President Isabella Chism, who has been in office since 2007. For those who haven’t had much of an opportunity as of yet, let’s meet INFB’s slate of officers.

President Randy Kron —By Andy Dietrick Public Relations Team Randy Kron took office as the ninth president of Indiana Farm Bureau on Jan. 1. His election is the culmination of a long leadership journey that includes local, state and national experience. He has a lengthy history with Farm Bureau as well, having served as Vanderburgh County Farm Bureau president, District 9 director and INFB vice president. “I believe in this organization. It’s a great organization, and I want to take it to the next level,” said Kron of his decision to seek the presidency. “It’s important, all of us working together, to make Farm Bureau the best it can be.” Kron farms with his wife, Joyce, and his son Ben in Vanderburgh County in southwest Indiana. His daughter, Tori, is a middle school English teacher. Joyce, Kron says, is an important part of the operation. “We’ve been married 32 years, and she’s active on the farm. She’s a partner on the farm, just like I am. She’s engaged in it every day.” Today the Krons farm about 2,000 acres and raise white corn, yellow corn, soybeans and wheat. But the operation started off much smaller. “Even though my father had farmed in the past, we actually started our farm from scratch. When we started there was not an existing farm operation. I started with 66

acres my junior year of high school, and it’s grown from there.” Kron left that small operation to attend Purdue University and graduated in 1983 with a degree in agricultural economics. Like many Farm Bureau leaders, his first involvement was as Young Farmer representative to his county board. Kron served on the State Young Farmer Committee in 1986 and 1987. In 1989, he and Joyce were the winners of the state Young Farmer Achievement Award. During the campaign for INFB president, Kron attended more than 50 county Farm Bureau meetings. That windshield time and what he heard from local leaders shaped his goals for the organization. “Indiana Farm Bureau will be the most effective advocate for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and national levels,” declared Kron after his election. “We will embrace what we do well, and make necessary changes to grow even stronger.” To meet that goal, Kron has outlined five action items, but for him, two stand out as most important. “We must have strong county Farm Bureaus with a growing and engaged membership. Counties are our lifeblood, and we need to provide the tools and support that help them get the job done,” he said. “And we really need to offer a variety of opportunities for all generations of our farm families to become involved with Farm Bureau.”

INFB President Randy Kron poses in a tractor cab that is apparently even colder than it looks. Photo by Joyce Kron

Kron addresses INFB members at the Indiana breakfast held during the 2016 AFBF convention in Orlando. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

Kron and his family. From left: son-in-law Daniel Langton, daughter Tori Langton, wife Joyce, Kron and son Ben. Photo courtesy of the Kron family

February 15, 2016

www.thehoosierfarmer.com

NFB’s Officers

SPECIAL FEATURE

Vice President Kendell Culp —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team Kendell Culp of Jasper County served 12 years as INFB District 3 director, and he’s been involved in many things: the state and national soybean boards, the Farm Credit board and as Jasper County commissioner. What brought him back to Farm Bureau leadership after going off the board in 2012 was the hope of making a difference in the future of agriculture. It’s important that someone is there to combat groups that are anti-agriculture, Culp said. “Because someone was there for me,” he said. “I didn’t realize that at the time, but somebody was there combating those entities so I could farm. I see the next generation, my two kids included, that wants to pursue a career in agriculture, so I want to be there to try to make a difference for them. “Where can I have the biggest impact on influencing, in a positive way, the future of agriculture? Farm Bureau was where I thought I could best accomplish that,” he said.

INFB Vice President Kendell Culp. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

Culp farms with his parents, his wife, Tammy, and his son Brandon near Rensselaer. Their daughter Kayla, who works full-time for Vision Ag Inc. in Rensselaer, recently bought 40 acres as part of the farm operation and is now involved in the farm part-time. The Culps raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle, and they have an independent hog finishing operation, buying pigs from a producer in Jasper County and finishing them to around 270 pounds. He has a long history with Farm Bureau, starting with his county

The Culp family. From left: son Brandon, daughter Kayla, Culp and his wife, Tammy. Photo by Kathleen M. Dutro

Young Farmer committee (including as chairman), his county board, the state Young Farmer committee and as county president before being elected district director in 2000. There are three things he hopes Farm Bureau focuses on during his tenure. The first priority is strengthening county Farm Bureaus. “To have a strong state organization, you’ve got to have strong counties. To have a strong American Farm Bureau, you’ve got to have strong state Farm Bureaus – which goes right back to the counties,” he said. Another focus is making sure the

insurance company remains strong. And the third, he said, is collaboration with other agricultural groups. “I think I’m probably positioned to be able to foster that discussion because I am a member of Indiana Corn, a member of Indiana Soybean, a member of Indiana Pork and Indiana Beef, a dues-paying member of those entities. Those are all commodities we raise on our farm,” he explained. “Farm Bureau is the umbrella organization that can bring all those together, and I think that’s important,” he added.

2nd Vice President Isabella Chism —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team Isabella Chism is a Howard County farmer and second vice president of Indiana Farm Bureau. She spent the first six years of her life in Austria, and growing up, she never imagined that one day she’d immigrate Isabella Chism, INFB 2nd vice president, and her husband, to the United States, settle in Indiana, marry a Kent. Photo by Rachel Schrage farmer and learn to love manager in those early days, Steve agriculture. But here she is. Palmer, who helped her find her “I really fell in love with farmplace within the organization. ing,” she said. “My mother couldn’t After some time on the county believe that her daughter, a girl who board, Chism became an assistant to didn’t like dirt under her fingernails, the county woman leader. When the was going to be a farmer, but I can’t county woman leader retired, Chism imagine doing anything else. I love took her place. From there, she ran it.” for second vice president, the role Chism Family Farms sits just a few that she currently holds. She is also miles north of downtown Kokomo. the chair of the Women’s Leadership Isabella and her husband, Kent, farm Committee. with their two daughters and sons“Ultimately, what I do every day in-law. They raise corn, high oleic always comes back to the farmers soybeans and sweet corn. we represent,” Chism said. “I like the The Chisms became involved in challenge of connecting the farmer to Farm Bureau when a neighbor asked the consumer, because we often forthem to join the county board. They get that farmers are consumers, too. I agreed to try it for a year. Isabella think the farmer’s position is unique, credits her continued involvement and we owe it to the non-farm conto the man who was her regional sumer to be upfront with them.”

www.thehoosierfarmer.com

The Chisms farm with their grown children. Top row (from left): daughter Kristy and son-inlaw Sam Baker; son-in-law Josh and daughter Beth Boxell. Bottom row: Abraham, Ruthie and John David Baker; Lilly, Oliver and Hunter Boxell. Photo by Rachel Schrage

She believes that Farm Bureau will continue to be an effective advocate for agricultural and rural issues well into the future, and she wants to have a part in that success. “All of our members have something that they want to do, or that they can do, but they might not know it,” she says. “I want to help them figure out how they fit, because we want everyone to be involved.” Looking to the organization’s

future, Chism says she would like to see members of all ages become more involved. “For Farm Bureau to be successful, we need to continue engaging our members,” Chism said. “I don’t need people to come to me and tell me, ‘You’ve done so much for Farm Bureau.’ I just want to help move the organization in the right direction by being a bridge builder and helping our members find their voice.”

February 15, 2016

AROUND FARM BUREAU

Indiana Small Farm Conference slated for March 4, 5 —From the Purdue Ag Communications Service Purdue Extension’s 2016 Indiana Small Farm Conference, which is designed for those interested in or currently operating a small- or medium-sized farm, will be held March 4 and 5 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. “Nearly half of Indiana farms are less than 50 acres, and we have seen an increasing number of small and medium-sized farms established in the past several years,” said James Wolff, extension educator in Allen County and conference organizer. “The conference is an opportunity to gain prac-

tical knowledge about vital production and marketing topics, as well as to build relationships with other farmers, vendors and experts.” Conference sessions are organized by themes. On March 4, presenters will focus on restoration agriculture, vegetable production, flower farming and farm financing. On March 5, topics will be livestock production, on-farm energy and equipment, fresh produce and farm management. A series of daylong preconference workshops will be held March 3. Direct marketing, woodland management, starting and sustaining a small farm in In-

diana and hops production will be among the topics. Participants will also have an opportunity to tour This Old Farm, a sustainable beef and pork production facility in Colfax. Cost is $60 to attend a preconference workshop and $120 for the conference itself. The Hendricks County Fairgrounds are at 1900 E. Main St., Danville. Registration is available through Purdue’s The Education Store at https://edustore.purdue.edu/wk_begin. asp. For more information, go to https://ag.purdue.edu/ extension/smallfarms/Pages/ default.aspx.

INFB President Randy Kron (left) visits Wells County Farm Bureau President Bruce Herr and Herr’s wife and daughter, Twila and Annie. The visit is part of a series of visits Kron is making to the farm of every county Farm Bureau president. Photo by Drew Cleveland

Who’s Who at Farm Bureau

Public policy intern Shelby Swain —By Rachel Schrage Public Relations Team

Last summer marked Shelby Swain’s thirteenth year of involvement with 4-H. After a 10-year show career, she and her mom started a club in Fishers, Ind.

Shelby Swain joined Indiana Farm Bureau in January as the legislative and public policy intern. She will work part time with the public policy team through the legislative session and join them full time over the summer. Swain is a senior at Purdue majoring in agricultural economics. She will graduate in May and return to Purdue in the fall to begin work on her master’s degree. During her time with INFB, she will assist the lobbying team and help with ELECT and the preparation of materials for the public policy team. Previous to coming to Farm Bureau, Swain had

USDA can’t compensate poultry industry for income losses The USDA doesn’t have the authority to compensate poultry and egg producers for lost income due to an outbreak of bird flu, Kevin Shea, administrator of the department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told state agriculture commissioners on Feb. 2. According to an article found on Politico’s “Morning Agriculture” blog (www. politico.com/tipsheets/ morning-agriculture), Shea, speaking at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s winter policy conference,

February 15, 2016

added that perhaps this authority could be addressed in the next farm bill, and advised attendees to talk to their members of Congress. According to Politico, APHIS plans to publish an interim final rule in February that changes its indemnity process for operations hit by bird flu, including covering eggs destroyed, a formula that splits payments between companies and their contract poultry or egg producers, and requiring businesses seeking indemnity to provide a statement certifying that a biosecurity

plan was in place at the time HPAI was detected. The interim rule can be found on the administration’s agenda here: http://1. usa.gov/1nF68xz. At the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting held in January, delegates added language that supports voluntary risk management products for poultry growers that would provide assistance during disease outbreaks as well as adding cottonseed to the list of oilseed crops eligible for farm programs.

internships with municipal government, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in Washington, D.C., and Marion County Extension. “I really enjoy working on agriculture issues that are of real concern to people,” she said. “It’s good to know that someone, or even my family, could benefit from our tri-

umphs at the Statehouse.” In her free time, Swain enjoys watching Purdue sports, spending time with her family and working with her show livestock. Swain was a 10-year member of Hamilton County 4-H and has since started a 4-H club in Fishers with the help of her mother.

Farm Bureau launches farmer-veteran mentorship project —By AFBF & Kathleen M. Dutro INFB Public Relations Team A new project by the American Farm Bureau aims to connect veterans with experienced farmers. The Patriot Project launched late last year, and it connects experienced Farm Bureau members with veterans who want to start in farming or ranching upon returning from the military. Lisa Benson, AFBF rural development director, said the goal of this project is to create meaningful, mentoring relationships that last a lifetime. “We are hoping people are able to connect, share best practices, share resources and that that veteran really becomes successful and has a new network when they are returning

back home,” Benson said in an interview with Newsline, AFBF’s weekly podcast. Although it launched as a pilot project in Texas and Arkansas, organizers hope to expand it this year. Benson says it’s important to help veterans be successful, especially in light of the sacrifices they have made for this country. “How can we help them be successful when they return home? So I feel like, just as an American, it’s our responsibility to make sure that these veterans feel welcome and that they have all the connection they need when they return home.” For more information, visit www.strongruralamerica. com/patriot_project.

www.thehoosierfarmer.com

COMMUNICATION

New video series gives consumers first-hand look at how food is grown and raised —From USFRA A single produce farm that raises GMO, conventional and organic crops. A cattle ranch that perseveres through the serious California drought. A pig farm that specializes in day-one animal care. A family dairy farm where producing quality milk is job #1, every day of the year. These are America’s farms and ranches. People can now learn more about where their food comes from through U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance’s new “Day on a Farm” online video series, created in collaboration with the popular online kitchen and home destination Food52. All four videos are now live on USFRA’s FoodDialogues.

com website, USFRA’s Facebook page, and on Food52’s website (food52. com/collections/1653603-aday-on-a-farm) and YouTube channel. “More than ever, people are interested in learning how their food is grown and raised, but most don’t have an opportunity to hear directly from farmers and ranchers or to see food production in action,” said USFRA CEO Randy Krotz. “America’s farms and ranches are as diverse as the consumers who eat their food – and our goal is to show a variety of farming and ranching practices and the people at the forefront of these practices. USFRA is excited to partner with the Food52 community to bring

food production to life.” The video series highlights farmers and ranchers who share stories about how they personally manage common food production practices such as antibiotics, GMOs, sustainability and animal welfare while growing and raising food. The videos add to the library of educational resources that USFRA launched in 2014, entitled “How To Farm,” and now include: • A Day on a Produce Farm – Filmed with Don Cameron at Terranova Ranch in California. • A Day on a Dairy Farm – Filmed with Jessica and Stuart Ziehm at Tiashoke Farm in New York. • A Day on a Pig Farm – Filmed with Erin

Brenneman and Thomas Titus at Brenneman Pork in Iowa. • A Day on a Cattle Ranch – Filmed with Kevin and June Kester at Bear Valley Ranch in California. “At Food52 we’re focused on inspiring the cook in everyone, and partnering with USFRA gives us the opportunity to share with our community so much about the food they eat, where it comes from and how it is grown,” said Food52 CEO and co-founder Amanda Hesser. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance consists of more than 90 farmer- and rancherled organizations (including Farm Bureau) and their agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects

of agriculture. It works to engage in a dialogue with consumers who have questions about how today’s food is grown and raised.

New campaign invites farmers to find their own voice —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team

“Find Your Voice” is the theme of the new membership campaign INFB rolled out in January.

Indiana Farm Bureau has rolled out a new membership campaign that invites members and prospective members to “Find Your Voice” through Farm Bureau. “Currently it’s a statewide program, but we will eventually have a template for counties to use,” said Chelsea Poe, INFB membership sales and marketing coordinator. The campaign has already begun in print and social media (it was posted for the very first time on Feb. 1 on the “Indiana Farm Bureau News” Facebook page), and “Find Your Voice” has been featured on the radio as well, Poe said. While the main purpose of the campaign is promoting membership, it can also

Ag Day photos wanted —By Kathleen M. Dutro Public Relations Team March 15 has been designated as National Ag Day 2016. This year’s national theme is “Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet.” Resources, including a media guide, artwork, sample ads, materials (for download and available for ordering by mail), and a social media toolkit are avail-

www.thehoosierfarmer.com

able on the National Ag Day website, www.agday.org. County Farm Bureaus are invited to send photos of their local Ag Day 2016 activities to Kathleen Dutro, kdutro@infb.org. Please do not resize the photos – the PR team needs original sizes to publish in the print edition of The Hoosier Farmer. To have your photo considered for The Hoosier Farmer, please send them

by no later than April 6. We hope to run several in the issue that comes out in late April. We know that some counties hold their activities later in the year. If your activity occurs too late for the April 6 deadline, we’d still love to see your photos and will consider them for INFB’s Facebook page.

be used for INFB’s grassroots lobbying effort. “That’s one of the main reasons why we chose this particular theme,” Poe said. The theme will also be used on membership materials, and regional managers will receive updated displays

in time for the county fair season. INFB worked with Young & Laramore, an Indianapolis advertising firm, to create the campaign. The idea has been in development since last summer, Poe explained.

MEMBER BENEFIT

Case IH Tractor & Equipment Incentive Program Farm Bureau members can now take advantage of Case IH equipment discounts thanks to a new membership value program. Eligible Farm Bureau members will receive an incentive discount – from $300 to $500 – when purchasing qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealerships. The discount is stackable, meaning it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount.

To print your verification certificate please visit www.fbverify.com/case and enter your 10-digit Farm Bureau membership number and your zip code.

February 15, 2016

AROUND INDIANA

INDOT information is easy to find —From the Indiana Department of Transportation Editor’s note: The article below was prepared by the Indiana Department of Transportation in response to a request by INFB policy advisor and counsel Amy Cornell for an explanation of where members can find information about the state transportation plan and avenues for public input. ––––––––––––––––––––––– Information about the Indiana Department of Trans-

portation is easy to find. With an annual operating budget of more than $400 million and more than $1 billion in annual capital expenditures, INDOT manages more than 28,400 roadway lane miles of interstates, U.S. routes, and state roads, as well as more than 5,600 bridges. As one of the state’s largest agencies, INDOT works hard to make information readily available to motorists, taxpayers and the public through a variety of methods.

THF2015

To make it easy for grassroots members to participate in Farm Bureau’s membership efforts, we include an application form in most issues of The Hoosier Farmer. Cut out the application form below or make copies and give them to new potential members. Remember to have them put your name in the membership volunteer box and 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.

Amy Cornell, INFB policy advisor and counsel who lobbies on road funding issues (among other things, discusses INFB priorities with other members of a broad coalition of groups interested in road funding. Photo by Jay A. Wood

INDOT’s website (www. indot.in.gov) is a one-stop shop for traffic information, project and program news, key initiatives and all things INDOT. The website navigation menu and dropdown tabs enable visitors to quickly locate the information they need. Many web pages include the name, email and mailing address of the employee responsible for that information so you can contact him or her directly. Visitors can also check out INDOT projects in their own counties by visiting INDOT’s Road & Bridge Investment page (in.gov/indot/div/investment/) or reviewing all major INDOT projects on the Major Projects page (in. gov/indot/2371.htm). Motorists can learn about current road conditions, work zones and traffic slowdowns through the INDOT TrafficWise website (indot. carsprogram.org/) or the INDOT Real-Time Traffic Conditions website (pws. trafficwise.org/pws/). If you encounter a problem on our roadways that you’d like

INDOT to address, you can use the “Report a Concern” web form, located under the Contact INDOT navigation menu item. You can also reach INDOT through its toll-free customer service number, 1-866-849-1368. You can connect with INDOT through social media (in.gov/indot/3074. htm), including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. INDOT’s central office and six geographic districts manage their own Facebook and Twitter feeds, so users can follow the social media feeds for only those areas in which they’re most interested. Social media is an excellent way to monitor up-to-the minute traffic and road conditions. More information about INDOT social media and contact information for agency districts (https://entapps.indot. in.gov/dotmaps/districtmaps/) are available on the website. INDOT recognizes the importance of involving the public as early as possible when developing transporta-

tion solutions to best meet the state’s transportation challenges. Therefore, it is the policy of INDOT to promote public involvement opportunities in the planning and project development phases, continuing through project construction and maintenance. Visit INDOT’s “Public Involvement” page (in.gov/indot/2366.htm) to view the meetings and hearings calendar and learn more about public involvement opportunities. INDOT news releases are also available via GovDelivery (in.gov/indot/3217.htm), a digital subscription service that includes most state agencies. The program enables recipients to subscribe to email and text messages for specific content. On the INDOT website home page, click on the red envelope icon below the navigation menu to create and manage a GovDelivery subscription. So whether you prefer to read, call, type, post or tweet, there’s always a way to find the INDOT information you need.

Calendar of Events

February 18, 19 INFB Board of Directors meeting.

February 15, 2016

March 3-5 4, 5 10 15 16, 17 22-24 14

Indiana Small Farm Conference, Danville. INFB Spring Conference, Indianapolis. District 2 spring meeting, Shipshewanna National Agriculture Day. INFB Board of Directors meeting. INFB grassroots lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. Last day of the 2016 session of the General Assembly.

April 2 4 5 6, 7 13, 14 23

INFB Leaders in Action session II, Rochester. Voter registration deadline for the May primary. Absentee/early voting begins. INFB Board of Directors meeting. INFB Women’s Leadership Committee meeting. Earth Day.