By EMMA HOPKINS-O’BRIEN

Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — This year at the Indiana State Fair, three people were presented Women in Agriculture awards by the Purdue University Extension Women in Ag Team (WIA) for their contributions to the farm industry’s success.

The Women in Ag Achievement award went to Bec Wicker, while the Achievement award went to Natasha Cox and the Emerging Women in Ag award was won by Madelyn Zimmerman.

“Thank you WIA, and the committee, for giving this award here,” said Lt. Gov. and Indiana Secretary of Agriculture Suzanne Crouch. “It’s not just about the people, but it’s about the love and encouragement of the university.”

The Emerging Women award, recognizing high school and undergrad college students making an impact on agriculture, is new to the program this year. The inaugural recipient is Zimmerman, of Milford. She was a 10-year 4-H member and participated heavily in FFA. She grew up on her family’s beef operation and actively participates in its management.

Recently, she obtained a grant from the state Department of Agriculture to expand her beef herd genetics. Among many other accomplishments, Zimmerman has helped coordinate and organize a Food for America program, which helped educate more than 500 elementary school students on their food supply.

“I’m so honored to have been selected for this award,” she said during the Fair ceremony last month. “There’s no way I could have done it without my support group – my mom, my grandma, and my two cousins are here today. My dad and my brother are in the swine barn right now,” she added.

Extension educator Kelly Heckaman has been a mentor to her throughout the past four years and invited her to her first WIA leadership conference, which Zimmerman said had a significant impact on her character.

“For some of the women in here, you know that it is a little challenging sometimes to be in a male-dominated industry,” she explained. “But that night I learned I am capable of doing anything I could ever want, and then some.”

The WIA Leadership recipient this year, Cox, works as regional vice president of ag lending for Farm Credit Mid-America. She grew up on a tobacco farm in southern Indiana and graduated from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in ag economics.

She lives with her husband and three children in Benton County on a sixth-generation corn and soybean operation. Cox was recently on a trade mission in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (trade) Agreement, and was involved in the passage of last year’s farm bill.

Cox believes advocating for agriculture is essential for its success. “Indiana ag and the industry in general needs our voices, not our apologies,” she said. “So make sure we go out there and fight for the industry as one of the No. 1 industries in the state of Indiana, and be proud.”

She said although agriculture has been in a tough spot for the past few years, it is an industry resting on the shoulders of the strong. “We are going to be courageous, we’re going to be committed together, and it’s because of women like Madelyn that the future of Indiana ag is extremely bright.

“So, let’s go out today and be insightfully disruptive together. Let’s make sure that we’re respectful to the industry, and let’s remember that a good defense is a good offense, but also, a good offense is a good defense.”

Wicker won the Women in Ag Achievement award, which recognizes women directly involved in a home farming operation. She grew up on a tobacco, dairy, and row crop farm in Kentucky, where she also competed in 4-H and was the first female FFA member in her chapter. She studied at Purdue in ag communications and has written several agriculture news articles.

Mentoring has been important to Wicker in all her ag roles throughout the years. “One of the organizations I am most proud of being associated with is Women in Ag,” she noted.

“I have been lucky enough to have connected with people like Madelyn and – I hope – to have helped them to see their way through, to help them do what they’re passionate about, as far as encouraging them. Everyone is an example,” she pointed out. “Are we a good example? Are we being the best example we can be?”

Since her marriage to J.D. Wicker, she has been part of her immediate family’s farm. In 1976, the couple built their own milking and cow-calf operation, also growing hay, corn, and soybeans.

In addition to communications, she has served the ag industry by working locally with her Soil and Water Conservation District and Midwest Ag Finance, which is now Beacon Ag Group. She has also been a longtime member of the Advisory Committee for WIA and inspired its “Code Red” project.

“It’s a tough time now in ag, but I think there are good things that can come of this, with a lot of pulling together,” she explained. “I am really humbled by this award, and all the support I’ve had from my family, and I want to thank you all so much.”