LAPORTE, Ind. — A leader in the agriculture community for much of northern Indiana is stepping down from his position. Indiana Farm Bureau District 1 Director Harold Parker decided not to seek reelection after nine years in the seat.

His district covers Lake, Porter, La Porte, St. Joseph, Starke, Fulton, Marshall and Pulaski counties.  

The lifelong La Porte area farmer will replaced by Lake County resident Matt Hayden, who raises corn, soybeans and beef cattle in Lake County. 

Parker, 72, said it was time for younger blood, especially knowing the skills Hayden brings to the position. “A young guy wanted to take my place and I had a good guy to come in so I thought it would be a good time to exit,” he said.

Parker, who raises 200 acres of tomatoes for Red Gold, along with corn and soybeans, was recognized August 22 during the annual meeting of the LaPorte County branch of Indiana Farm Bureau.

He was presented with a gift card and plaque by LaPorte County Farm Bureau President Mark Parkman, a farmer from the Westville area.

“I know in my world here at Farm Bureau, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’ve been able to do without Harold’s help,” he said.

Parker said his work in helping to provide affordable health insurance options to Indiana Farm Bureau members is among his proudest achievements. In 2021, Indiana Farm Bureau began offering health coverage in response to many farmers and other members struggling to afford their own plans with outside providers. 

Making that possible was the Governor Eric Holcomb signing legislation overwhelmingly approved in the house and senate. 

Parkman described Parker as someone capable of getting the attention of state lawmakers on matters important to the agriculture community.

“He was very vocal downstate in expressing opinions from a different perspective.  We are very grateful for the time he put in for us,” he said.

During the meeting, over $28,000 was also raised from a silent auction to help fund construction of a new Farm Bureau milk cabin at Pioneer Land.

Many of the items up for bidding were donated gift cards for as much as $1,000 from businesses affiliated with agriculture like Kingsbury Elevator and Heinold Feller Tire in LaCrosse.

There were also individual donations of IPads, meat, candles, coffee machines and other merchandise for the auction along with monetary contributions for as much as $500. 

Parkman said he was pleased with the support during the auction from the over 100 members of Farm Bureau, elected officials and other people in attendance.

“I’m kind of surprised but we were hoping for that,” Parkman said. 

Parkman said the new milk cabin, expected to cost about $110,000, will be made with timber logs so the look fits in better with the 1830s style village, which consists of more than a dozen buildings at the fairgrounds.

It will go into the space now occupied by the existing more modern looking cabin where milk is sold at 10 cents a glass when Pioneer Land is open during the fair.

Parkman said the cabin has been there since 2000 and has maintenance issues like wood rotting around all of the windows.

He said no decision has been made on the future of the cabin, which could be torn down, sold or dismantled for parts to be used for maintaining other Pioneer Land structures.

Parkman said the plan is to have the new cabin built in time for the 2025 fair.

He said additional funds still need to be raised but money from the auction and the amount contributed by Farm Bureau has pushed the total more than halfway to what’s needed to build the new cabin. 

“We’re definitely getting closer,” he said.