ATLANTA, Ind. — The deadline to submit nominations for Beck’s Hybrids Beyond the Fence awards is this Friday.

Sponsored by Beck’s Hybrids of Atlanta in conjunction with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Growers Assoc., these awards are presented to four individuals who have shown exceptional leadership within the state’s agricultural community.

Electronic submissions to www.survey monkey.com/s/G5WS9LL are preferred, and self nominations are accepted. People who previously received an award are ineligible to receive a second award in the same category. Award winners will be announced Feb. 27, 2012, during the Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum.

Categories are:

•Beck’s Friend of Indiana Agriculture Award is designated for an individual not directly involved in agricultural production but who has made an outstanding contribution, directly or indirectly, to Indiana agriculture.

The individual’s accomplishments should reflect their efforts to educate or bring about agricultural growth through modern agricultural practices. The individual must not be a farmer and reside in Indiana.

•Beck’s Agricultural Education Outreach Award honors an individual agricultural educator teaching through a high school, college or Cooperative Extension Service, who has made significant contributions to agriculture through their program.

•Beck’s Community Betterment Award honors a farmer who has made outstanding contributions to Indiana communities through service, volunteerism, donations and/or leadership projects. That person’s accomplishments also should reflect an effort to educate the community and those who may be far removed from agriculture.

The individual must be a farmer deriving all or some income from their Indiana farming operation, must be seeking to educate the community about farm and agriculture, must live in Indiana and must have made significant contributions to their local Indiana community.

•Beck’s Ag Media Award honors a media professional – editor, writer, reporter, broadcaster, photographer or freelancer – who has made significant contributions to Indiana agriculture.

In announcing this year’s awards, Scott Beck, vice president of Beck’s Hybrids, said, “We’re thrilled to once again recognize individuals who have a strong passion and dedication to agriculture. Indiana would not be where it is today without the support of individuals who help educate, report and volunteer their time to promote Indiana agriculture.”