ASA accepting applications for Conservation Legacy Awards

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Share the story of how conservation is part of your farm operation and you could be recognized with a Conservation Legacy Award. The awards recognize farm management practices of U.S. soybean farmers that are both environmentally friendly and profitable.

All U.S. soybean farmers are eligible to enter to win. Entries are judged on soil management, water management, input management, conservation, environmental management, and sustainability. The selection process for these awards is divided into four regions: the Midwest, Upper Midwest, Northeast, and South.

One farmer from each of these will be recognized at the 2020 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, and one of these farmers will be named the National Conservation Legacy Award recipient. Winners receive an expense-paid trip for two to Commodity Classic, Feb. 27-29.

All applications must be submitted by Sept. 13. Learn more at https://soygrowers.com/about/awards/conservation-legacy

NCF announces launch of NGLI application period

SANTA FE, N.M. — The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Chair Steve Robinson announced the opening of the application period for the inaugural cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI).

NGLI, a program of the NCF, will train seven applicants over the course of 2020, with one participant selected from each of the National Assoc. of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) regions.

During the year-long NGLI program, currently-appointed conservation district officials will be equipped for leadership at the local, state, and national levels through several in-person trainings focused on personal, civic, and organizational leadership development.

Applications are due Sept. 20; to learn more about the program, visit www.nacdnet.org/NCF-Next-Gen

Carroll County farmers win rural preservation award

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — On August 15 at the Indiana State Fair, the Mears family of Carroll County received the 2019 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation from Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau. The award honors the efforts of three generations of the Mears family, who have been farming in Carroll County since 1949.

The Mearses operate two historic farms in Deer Creek Valley, a natural area and rural historic district known for its scenic beauty. Sherry and Lois Mears purchased the 275-acre family homestead, the historic McCain Farm, in 1949 as newlyweds. They raised six children there, along with cattle, hogs, and chickens, and corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and tomatoes.

They lived in the farm’s picturesque 1852 Greek Revival farmhouse and used the c.1880 Sweitzer barn and an early 20th century poultry house, garage, and corncrib in farming operations. In 1966, they bought the 80-acre historic Royster Farm just down the road across Deer Creek, where their son, John, and daughter-in-law, Mary, made their home in the 19th century farmhouse and raised their two children. A c.1880 English barn, 1920s poultry shed, and c.1950 concrete block equipment building dot the property.

The wealth of historic agricultural structures on both farms played a role in them being listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Deer Creek Valley Rural Historic District in 2002. Following Sherry’s and Lois’ deaths, their children and grandchildren took steps to ensure the farms and their heritage remained in the family.

Today, Mears Farms primarily produces cash crops and periodically opens their historic barns for workshops and tours celebrating rural heritage and encouraging the preservation of similar historic farm buildings statewide.

The annual award is named in memory of John Arnold (1955-91), a Rush County farmer committed to preserving Indiana’s rural heritage.

Agriculture photo contest winners honored at Indiana State Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the 2019 Indiana Agriculture photo contest at the Indiana State Fair.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and ISDA Director Bruce Kettler recognized the 10 photographers, who will have their photos featured in the lieutenant governor's business offices throughout the year. Hundreds of Indiana photographers competed in four categories of the contest: Agritourism, Conservation, Faces of Agriculture, and On the Farm.

Photos were evaluated by a panel of independent judges based on creativity, composition, and category representation. In total, 10 winners were selected: two from each category and two overall. The following are the winners:

Agritourism

•“Farm Fresh Sweet Corn” by Brittany Swackhamer from Cicero

•“Fierce Competition” by Leah Smalley from Middletown

Conservation

•“Grouchyface and Mate at Crooked Creek, Monroe Lake” by Louis Tenney from Bloomington

•“Sunset at Griffy Lake” by Sadie Lee Tenney from Bloomington

Faces of Agriculture

•“Barn Buddies” by Natalie Norton from Bloomington

•“Let's Talk Ruby” by Christina Newby from Greensburg

On the Farm

•“Different Point of View” by Chad Boswell from Kirklin

•“Soybean Harvest Sunset” by Noah Poynter from Greencastle

Overall Winners

•“Old-Time Threshing” by Peggy Carter from Chesterton

•“24-Row Glow” by Tom Jones from Star City

To view the winning photos, visit www.isda.in.gov

Michigan Ag Information Network announces new broadcaster

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. — The Michigan Ag Information Network (MAIN) is proud to introduce Ashley Davenport as its new in-state farm broadcaster. She will become the face and voice of this growing radio network.

Davenport will be based in the Kalamazoo area and will travel the state covering news, attending events, and connecting with farmers. She was most recently with Farm Journal Media as producer of the AgriTalk programs. She is well-versed in the issues facing agriculture today and understands the importance of keeping producers informed.

Davenport will also bring a new dimension to MAIN. With her Purdue University master’s degree in strategic communications, she will develop and implement a social and digital media strategy for the network. In addition, she will assist with web and social media channels for MAIN’s sister network, Hoosier Ag Today.

ASA seeks nominations for annual soy recognition awards

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The American Soybean Assoc. (ASA) wants to recognize exceptional soy volunteers and leaders. During ASA’s annual awards banquet, individuals will be recognized and honored for state association volunteerism, distinguished leadership achievements, and long-term, significant contributions to the soybean industry.

The Recognition Awards categories are: Outstanding State Volunteer, Distinguished Leadership, and the Pinnacle. All nominations must be received online, no later than Oct. 14. No nominations by telephone, email, or fax will be accepted.

A judging committee will be assigned to make the final selections. Recipients will receive their awards at the ASA Awards Banquet on Feb. 28, 2020, in San Antonio, Texas, at the Commodity Classic.

Nominations sought for Indiana CCA of the Year honor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Consider nominating a qualified certified crop advisor (CCA) you employ or know for the Indiana Certified Crop Adviser of the Year award. This will recognize an individual who has performed superior service for their farmer clients in nutrient management, soil and water management, and pest and crop production.

The award will be presented at the Indiana CCA Conference on Dec. 17-18 in Indianapolis. The nominator, if not the nominee’s employer, that submits the winning application will receive $250 and the winner will receive $1,500. In addition, the winner will be nominated for the International CCA Board for consideration for the International CCA of the Year Award, with an honorarium of $2,000.

To be considered, a CCA must be certified in Indiana and nominated by a client, a colleague, or the employer of the CCA who knows their qualifications. Indiana Farm Bureau must receive the nomination by Oct. 31. If you have any questions, call Justin Schneider at 317-692-7835 or Quentin Rund at 800-387-1283.

Tallman hired as new leadership for Indiana Grown program

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The state’s Indiana Grown program is under new leadership, with the promotion of Heather Tallman to program director. Tallman, who previously served as Member Development Program Manager, has been with the state’s agriculture department since 2017 and has more than a decade of food media and local agriculture marketing experience.

Prior to joining the department, she created and founded her own food media company, Kitchen Sink Media, Inc., which helped brands and businesses with content creation, social media, product placement, and promotion. Through creating her own food-centric network, she has gained experience in blogging, broadcast appearances, and cooking demonstrations.

As program director, Tallman will be responsible for overseeing staff and the overall direction of the initiative. She will also serve as liaison and spokesperson for the program, and will work with the agriculture industry, and other partners, to develop new opportunities for Indiana Grown and its members.

Working alongside Tallman is Dana Kosco, who has been with Indiana Grown since 2017 and recently transitioned into a new role as marketing and communications manager. Along with managing the communications efforts for the program, she is taking on additional responsibilities to include running the Indiana Grown Marketplace at the Indiana State Fair, coordinating with the media, and implementing a digital and graphic content strategy.

Previously, Kosco was the Girls Nation Program Manager for the American Legion Auxiliary. She is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in business management from the Krannert School of Management.

Wuestefeld replaces Reiter as director of Indiana Fish & Wildlife

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Mark Reiter, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife, retired in July after 39 years of service.

Reiter started as a biologist aide in 1977. He quickly rose through the ranks as a laborer, property manager, staff specialist, and eventually wildlife chief. After leaving the division for three years to work for the National Rifle Assoc., he returned as a wildlife staff specialist and public lands program manager before becoming director of Fish & Wildlife in 2009.

In June 2019, he received the Sagamore of the Forest, Fields, and Streams lifetime achievement award from the Midwest Assoc. of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. This award is given to directors who have dedicated years of service to the association.

Amanda Wuestefeld, who has worked full-time in Fish & Wildlife for more than 25 years, was promoted to replace Reiter as division director. She is the first woman to be hired to that position.

For the past five years, she has served as the assistant director. Before that, she served as the Hoosier Outdoor Heritage coordinator for eight years. Wuestefeld, who holds a B.S. in wildlife science from Purdue University, also served as the Go FishIN coordinator for eight years.

She started her DNR career in 1991 while still a college student as an intermittent employee at Hardy Lake, bringing her combined part-time and full-time service at DNR to 28 years. She grew up in the town of Commiskey in Jennings County.

Spaulding publishes first book with columns compilation

MOSCOW, Ind. — Indiana native Jack Spaulding has published his first book showcasing the best, funniest, and most heartwarming stories spanning his lengthy career as an outdoors journalist.

Follow this Farm World columnist into the field and on the river and experience firsthand his trials and tribulations as he hunts for wild game and faces down (and sometimes gets bested by) any number of woodland and domestic creatures such as drunken doves, skunks, snakes, cows, bats, and bears – to name a few.

Spaulding also shares his recipes for fish and game, as well as harvesting and cooking tips for a wide variety of Indiana’s wild edibles, including ones you can find in your own backyard. As a bonus, he includes childhood stories of growing up in Indiana.

You can order a copy of The Best of Spaulding Outdoors for $14.95 paperback or $3.99 for the Kindle, online at Amazon.com

Genective names Jing as its new chief executive officer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Genective, a joint venture between Limagrain and KWS to develop transgenic traits for corn, is pleased to announce Qiaoni Linda Jing as CEO.

Jing comes to Genective with a decade of experience at Monsanto, recently as part of Bayer Crop Science. She held various executive roles with global responsibility in corporate affairs, R&D, and supply chain at Monsanto’s headquarters, after regional commercial roles in both the United States and Argentina.

Prior to Monsanto, Jing worked at General Motors in the U.S. and PricewaterhouseCoopers in China. She is an alumnus of the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and Fudan University and Soochow University in China.

Kahle joins Ohio’s D&D Ingredient Distributors team

DELPHOS, Ohio — D&D Ingredient Distributors, Inc. recently welcomed Pat Kahle, who has joined the company as sales manager. He is based in Adrian, Mich., and will serve producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, and feed professionals focusing mainly on the Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana markets.

Kahle earned his B.S. in animal science from The Ohio State University in 1987. He began his career as account manager with Pfizer and has served in various dairy-related capacities over the past 23 years with several companies, including Monsanto, Chr. Hansen, and most recently Arm & Hammer. He also served in a human resources capacity for several years with Perdue Farms.