The state Indiana FFA Convention was recently at Purdue University. John King of Butler was chosen as the new president for the coming year and Geras Schafer, of Charlestown High School (Clark County), was chosen the Indiana Star Hoosier Farmer.

Joe Allen Booth of Rush County and a freshman student at Purdue, in the College of Agriculture, recently was awarded the beef cattle showmanship award of the Purdue Royal Show. In the 10-year history of the show, this is the first time a freshman has won.

Maple Lumber, Inc. of Knightstown has been sold to Tweedy Lumber Co. of Carthage. Ross Tweedy and son, Jack, will operate the business at its present location in Knightstown.

Purebred Yorkshire-Hampshire-Chester White Boars and gilts, high-quality and ready to go – B. Parker Newson of Columbus, Ind.

Three Purdue ag students were honored by the Ag Econ Club at its annual awards banquet. Lowell A. Lumpkin of Modoc was named the top scholar among graduating seniors in agricultural economics. Keith O. Applegate of Connersville was named the outstanding senior in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Philip Shultz of Battle Ground was named outstanding Junior in the department.

Farmers who drive large trucks are considered commercial drivers, regardless of whether they are involved in intrastate or interstate commerce, and are subject to the new single commercial driver license law enacted by Congress last year. This law goes into effect July 1, 1987, and will cover any driver operating a commercial vehicle weighing more than 26,000 pounds.

More Indiana farmers rely on off-farm jobs, according to recent survey figures released by Lt. Gov John Mutz office. Only 24.4 percent of the farmers surveyed receive 100 percent of their income from agriculture. Eighty-seven percent of the farmers surveyed indicated they will participate in one of the two federal corn set-aside programs for this year.

Representing Indiana at the FFA National Soils Judging Contest this year will be teams from following school chapters: North Miami 4-H; Rensselear Central High School; Rush County 4-H; Woodland High School 4-H; Hauser High School 4-H; North Miami FFA; Huntington North FFA; Union County High School FFA; Southern Wells FFA; and West Washington FFA.

Kenny Vice Ford Sales of Ladoga, Ind. – 2002 Ford F250 4x4 XL 5.4 V-8, $25,800; 2002 Ford F350 4x4 XL 5.4 V-8, $26,400; 2002 Ford F350 Supercab 4x4 XLT powerstroke, $34,600.

The U.S. House last week endorsed a $275,000 per-farm cap on ag subsidies in a non-binding vote that supporters said shows growing momentum for such limits.

An all-terrain vehicle caught fire, sparking a blaze in a nearby barn that killed 18 horses on the Meadow Gold Farm in Hendron, Ky. The horses were a mixture of Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses and Appaloosas.