THE PAPER February 22, 2012
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Bowmans honored as 2012 Wabash County Farm Family of the Year
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
even five years out, but maybe even 20 years out,” Kevin said. “We try to make decisions that affect us not only today, but in the long run as well.” The long run for Bowman Farms includes the possibility a new generation of Bowmans at the helm, an idea that has both Kevin and Dan proud. Kevin’s sons, Kyle and Evan, have both joined the farm, while Dan’s son, Michael, a junior at Southwood High School, will have the same opportunity. “Seeing that new generation come in and choosing to farm has, in a sense, reenergized my interest as well. It’s their choice and this is just one opportunity they have; but to see them choose to come back has been fulfilling,” Kevin said. In order to preserve the opportunity for the future generation
their farmland. “The hesitant at first about ground we do rent, we the Farm Family of try to manage that as the Year Award,” well as we do our own. Kevin explained. “For Being a good steward them to think of you of the land is the best and be named a recipway to keep those ient is quite an honor. relationships solid.” I appreciate them for In recognition of helping to promote their efforts, Bowman agriculture as a Farms were honored whole.” by the Indiana “The Farm Family Natural Resources of the Year is an Conservation Service honor to us all,” Dan (NRCS) as the 2003 said. “To be selected Conservation Farmer by leaders of the comof the Year. munity for an award In addition to the like this is something NRCS honor, Kevin we certainly apprecihas been a member of ate.” the MSD of Wabash According to the County School Board, Bowmans, a large porand currently serves tion of their success as president. stems from the help Dan has served on they have employed the Wabash County over the years. Farm Service Agency “We feel that we are County Committee, extremely fortunate and currently serves to have the staff that as chairman. we have had over the Modest by nature, past 10-15 years,” Kevin admitted at Kevin explained. first he was hesitant “Our full-time to accept the Farm employees, J.P. and Family of the Year Chad Mattern, have Award. been an important “We were a little (continued on page 6)
by Brent Swan On Feb. 17, Wabash County Chamber of Commerce president Kimberly Pinkerton along with Ag Committee Chairman Howard Halderman, announced the selection of Bowman Farms as the 2012 Wabash County Farm Family of the Year. The farm, currently operated by brothers Kevin and Dan Bowman, consists of row crop farming encompassing over 3,500 acres of each soybeans and corn. The farm was started in 1890 by Riley Bowman, Kevin and Dan’s great-grandfather, who moved to the Wabash area with a mud boat. Riley’s
grandson, Charles, took over at the age of 24 after his father, Walter, passed away unexpectedly in 1951. Charles and his wife, Norma Jean, Kevin and Dan’s parents, have lived in Riley’s house for the past 62 years. Over that time, Bowman Farms has grown from its modest beginning to the versatile business it is today. Despite market swings throughout years past, Bowman Farms has remained strong due to a forward-looking business concept. “One of our strengths, and I think it comes from our father, is that we don’t look at just today or
Second annual Salute to Agriculture event March 8, 2012 • 6:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Jay Akridge, Purdue University Dean of Agriculture Cost: $12 per person
of Bowmans, the elder Bowmans have implemented sound conservation practices, one of the nominating criteria set forth by the Chamber’s agriculture committee. “I think sometimes there’s a misconception that we’re looked at more industrially – that we’re going to take something, use it for a short period of time and then leave it like that,” Kevin explained. “Some of the ground we farm has been in the family name for over a hundred years now. It’s very important we take that long-term approach with the next generation getting ready to come on board.” “The way we treat the ground directly impacts our income, so as farmers you have to recognize the importance of proper land conservation,” Dan said. Two methods of
conservation currently utilized by the Bowmans is the use of strategically placed waterways and terraces. “Lately I’ve become fond of terracing, and we try to utilize local technical assistance from the NRCS office,” Kevin said. “Relationships between landowners and us as farmers are probably more important now than they ever have been.” As land values have increased, more pressure has been put on large farming operations to not only find rentable ground, but also be able to keep existing ground within their farm; something the Bowmans have remained cognizant of. “We’ve tried to build a decent ownership base so we can plan further down the road and not so much on a year to year basis,” Kevin said of
Wabash County Soil & Water Conservation District Annual Report
Reservations are available by contacting the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce by phone at 260-563-1168; by email, info@wabashchamber.org; or by mailing payment to 210 S. Wabash St., Wabash, IN 46992. Sponsors Dinner Sponsors: Wabash County REMC and Poole’s Meat Market and Catering Services Gold Level: Ag Venture/McKillip Seeds, The Paper of Wabash County, Beck’s Hybrids, North Central Cooperative, First Farmer’s Bank and Trust, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, and Halderman Farm Management Services Silver Level: Farm Credit Services, Wells Fargo Bank, Grain Systems, Beacon Credit Union, Ivy Tech Agriculutre, First Merchants Bank, Brodbeck Seeds, Advanced Ag Resources, Wabash County Hospital Foundation’s Harvest For Health Bronze Level: Poet Biorefining, First Financial Bank, Bippus State Bank, CFS, Urbana Ag Pro, Agro Chem Inc., Troxel Equipment, Crossroads Bank, Farm Bureau Inc.
2012 WABASH COUNTY FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR: Bowman Farms was recently selected as the second annual Farm Family of the Year by the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce. Pictured are (from left): front row, Evan Bowman and Kyle Bowman, Bowman Farms; Darin Hadley, Wells Fargo; back row, Dan Bowman and Kevin Bowman, Bowman Farms; Howard Halderman, Ag Committee chairman; Kimberly Pinkerton, Chamber of Commerce president; and Curt Campbell, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. (photo by Mike Rees)
Index Classifieds ....................28-31 D&E..............................20-21
Weekly Reports ............13-16
In Memoriam Dorothy Scheffer, 58 Harold Eller, 75 Doris Loy, 85
Maurice Shelton, 52 Morris Speicher, 85 Ray Faust, 84 Harold Beecher, 84
Joy Young, 83 Gloria Allen, 78 Judith Satterthwaite, 69
Vol. 34, No. 49 Richard Kumler, 68 Donna Hysong, 59 Helen Vandermark, 92
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326