Bechdol to join firm as director of Agribusiness Strategies</p><p>
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Ice Miller LLP, Indianapolis’ largest law firm, announced that Beth Bechdol, former deputy director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), has joined the firm as the director of Agribusiness Strategies. Bechdol will be responsible for assisting and coordinating the firm’s efforts for a newly-formed agricultural law initiative.</p><p>
Ice Miller will provide myriad of legal services specifically tailored to the food and agribusiness industry including: labor, employment and immigration, intellectual property, environmental and real estate management, transactional and investment related services, litigation/risk management, regulatory, public affairs and lobbying and estate planning. </p><p>
Melissa Proffitt Reese, former co-managing partner of Ice Miller, will chair the initiative. The group will include an additional 14 attorneys and industry specialists making it the largest agricultural law initiative in the state.</p><p>
“Beth brings a tremendous amount of knowledge of agriculture, business and market trends to the Firm,” stated Reese. “She has unrivaled contacts throughout the industry – in Indiana with private sector food and agricultural businesses and with national associations representing the agriculture industry.”</p><p>
Prior to joining ISDA, Bechdol was chief of staff to the Under Secretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the USDA. She also served on the Senate Agriculture Committee under Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) during the development of the 2002 Farm Bill. </p><p>
She received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in International Law and International Affairs and completed her master’s degree at Purdue University in agricultural economics. She was raised on a corn and soybean farm in Auburn, Ind.</p><p>
Former Elanco executive
to advise ISDA</p><p>
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Gov. Mitch Daniels announced that Pat James will serve as Special Advisor for Agriculture Corporate Development to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). James announced his intention to step down as president of Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Co.</p><p>
James will advise the state on ways to develop and nurture stronger relationships with corporations in the agriculture sector. </p><p>The state believes this role will be important in attracting new jobs and investments to Indiana. James brings a track record of experience that will be instrumental in generating growth in this important area of the state’s economy.</p><p>
Nigh elected to Farm Credit Nominating Committee
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (FCS) announced that Mark Nigh of Shelbyville, Ind., was elected to the ag lending cooperative’s 2008 Nominating Committee. The 20-person committee meets next June to select candidates for the cooperative’s 2008 cooperative elections.</p><p>
Nigh owns 450 acres and leases an additional 1,050 acres where he grows corn, soybeans and wheat and is also a school bus driver. He is a member of the Franklin FCS advisory committee and has been on past FCS nominating committees. He serves as secretary and director of Rush Shelby Energy R.E.C., as a director for Ag One Co-op and as president of both the Shelby County Farm Bureau and the Shelby County Extension Board.</p><p>
Illinois grower receives
World of Corn award</p><p>
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — William Bradley, a Gallatin County corn grower, is the recipient of the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) top award, presented at the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 20. The World of Corn Award goes to individuals, organizations or businesses for making significant contributions to the corn industry. The award, now in its 17th year, was created to recognize the global importance of corn, and to specifically honor individual pacesetters that have made Illinois a leader in the corn industry. </p><p>
Bradley, of Omaha, has been involved in Corn Growers since 1978, and dedicated 15 years to serving in key leadership positions in ICGA, National Corn Growers Assoc., the National Corn Development Foundation, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB).</p><p>
While on the ICMB, he served in numerous roles, including that of chairman. He participated in export market development efforts when the USGC launched its first trade missions to Australia and Indonesia. In the early 1990s, he played a major role in representing the organization during a scientific review of ethanol’s clean air benefits, which allowed ethanol growth to continue. He now serves on the ICGA grassroots committee. </p><p>
Renaissance hires
Franks for Indiana</p><p>

ROARING SPRING, Penn. — Renaissance Nutrition, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Franks as a nutrition, feed and farm management consultant for counties in northern and central Indiana.</p><p>
Franks is a graduate of Purdue University, with a bachelor’s in Agricultural Economics and a minor in Agribusiness Management and Animal Science. </p><p>
He previously worked for a breeding company in the Midwest and, more recently, as a tester with a DHI cooperative. He was raised on a dairy farm in northern Indiana, which he continues to help with as time permits. </p><p>
With Renaissance, Franks will continue his training in many areas, including advanced nutrition and ration balancing; calf, heifer, dry and lactating cow programs; and much more. </p><p>
He maintains an office in Wawaka, Ind., but will travel extensively throughout his service area.</p><p>