Bechdol named Torchbearer<br>

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Beth Bechdol, director of agribusiness strategies at Ice Miller LLP, recently received the Torchbearer Award for Agriculture.<br>
The award was presented during the Indiana Commission for Women’s fourth annual Salute to Women. The commission presented this year’s Torchbearer Awards to women who have overcome obstacles and made Indiana a better place in which to live, work and raise a family.<br>
The Torchbearer is the highest award presented only to women by the state of Indiana.<br>
Bechdol earned her bachelor of science degree from Georgetown University in 1994 and her master’s of science from Purdue University in 1996.<br>
Glick named as ASA rep<br>

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Bartholomew County farmer Brett Glick has been named Indiana’s representative to the 2008 class of the American Soybean Assoc. (ASA)/DuPont Young Leader program.
The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), ASA and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont, sponsor the state contest. The program identifies young leaders from around the United States to participate in a yearlong leadership training program.<br>
Glick, of Columbus, farms about 2,000 acres with his brother Trevor, grandfather Lynn Glick and neighbor Lynn Dishinger. He also raises corn, soybean and wheat seed for L&M Glick Seed, the family’s private seed company. In addition to the row crops, Glick and his brother have recently started Brothers Beef, which is an all-natural grass-fed beef company in which they market directly to the public.<br>
A graduate of Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Glick is a member of Indiana Farm Bureau and joins winners from ASA’s other state affiliates for Phase I of the national program, Feb. 26-March 1 in Nashville, Tenn. It is held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic. Phase II will be in early December at the Pioneer Hi-Bred headquarters in Johnston, Iowa.<br>
This leadership seminar allows participants to enhance their leadership skills as well as meet and learn from other Young Leaders from around the country and Canada. 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the program. To find out more, visit www.soygrowers.com/dyl<br>
Four SWCD staff receive honors<br>

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Four Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff were honored recently as District Employees of the Year for their outstanding service to landowners, the public at large and the conservation community.<br>
Selection of the 2007 District Employee of the Year recipients was based on service to the public, willingness to participate “above and beyond the call of duty,” professional ethics, attitude towards responsibility, dedication to the principles of natural resource conservation and measurable accomplishments. Letters of support and each district’s last annual report also were requested and reviewed.<br>
The award is presented in four categories: <br>Administrative/Secretarial, Educational, Technical and Multi-task. Each of the four recipients received an award from the Indiana Assoc. of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and a plaque from the Indiana District Employees Assoc.<br>
The recipient in the administrative/secretarial category is Bonnie Bittner of Vanderburgh County. She works hard to insure a seamless structure to be presented to the general public as they work through answers to their natural resources and has helped with water monitoring, hosting tillage demonstrations and cosponsoring soils judging.<br>
The employee honored in the technical category is Harvey Nix of Porter County. This marks 25 years of service he has given the SWCD, during which he has brought to Porter County a total of $150,000 in funds for flood repairs. He has designed 83 ponds for individuals, seeded hundreds of acres in filter-strips, hundred of acres of trees and has worked with 21,132 people on water problems, ponds, wildlife habitat, building issues and disputes between landowners.<br>
The employee of the year in the educational category is Don Emmert of Tippecanoe County, the Partnership for Water Quality SWCD educator. He prepares an education budget and develops an annual plan of work designed to meet the requirements of both the partnership and SWCD. He works with diverse individuals and groups to address the natural resource conservation education needs of the community.<br>
The employee of the year in the multi-task category is Jan Stout of Miami County. She utilizes volunteers for many of the educational field days, including the annual tree sale.<br>
She is directly responsible for the SWCD/Natural Resources Conservation Service office and strives to run the office in a professional and proficient manner.<br>
Brock names Gartland manager<br>
MILFORD, Ind. —  Chris Gartland has been named plant manager for Brock Grain System’s Frankfort, Ind., facility. Gartland has 17 years of manufacturing management experience and will be responsible for the daily operations of the plant that manufactures Brock’s line of grain conditioning and drying equipment.<br>
Prior to his employment with Brock, Gartland was the site operations leader with Owens Corning, Inc. in Goshen, Ind. Prior to that, he was employed at Kimble Glass, a division of Owens Illinois in Warsaw, Ind., where he held various positions including mechanical engineer, production and engineering manager and plant manager.<br>
Gartland earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University of Philadelphia, Penn., and a masters degree in business administration from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C.<br>
A native of Gloucester City, N.J., Gartland currently lives in Warsaw and plans to relocate to Frankfort.