WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The operators of a fourth-generation family grain elevator have been recognized for their contributions to Indiana youth involved in agriculture.

Jeff and Sondra Lehman are this year’s Indiana FFA Foundation Outstanding Service Award recipients. The honor was unveiled during the 94th Indiana FFA State Convention on June 20 on the campus of Purdue University.

They operate Lehman Feed Mill in Berne, a community of more than 4,000 residents about 30 miles south of Fort Wayne.

The 1.5-million-bushel grain elevator purchases corn, soybeans, wheat and oats year-round.

The authorized Beck’s Hybrids dealer also specializes in making custom feed mixes and carries a full line of Hubbard and Showrite livestock and pet feed products.

A wide variety of other farm supplies, along with fencing products for small and large farm operations, are also offered at the feed mill.

Indiana FFA Foundation spokesman Erin Padgett said the award is chosen by reviewing a list of monetary donors over the previous year and discussing what else the financial contributors have done with their personal time for the organization.

The Lehmans have given more than $30,000 to the foundation over the past 16 years.

Officials said Jeff Lehman also served on the Adams Central High School FFA Advisory board for many years.

He’s credited with strengthening the Agriculture Education Program and FFA chapter by making recommendations for program improvement and providing assistance wherever needed.

According to Indiana FFA Foundation officials, the Lehmans have also served as judges for countless leadership contests throughout the years at the local and state levels and sponsored numerous events, scholarships, products and awards for local FFA chapters and for the state association.

Their involvement grew extensively after their son, Nathan, was elected as state sentinel from 2004-05, officials said. Nathan and his brothers, Adam and Patrick, each served as chapter officers of the FFA chapter at their high school.

The Lehman family is now the sole sponsor of the prestigious State Star scholarship awards. Officials said the winners in each category, Star Farmer, Star Placement, Star Agribusiness and Agriscience receive a $250 scholarship.

“Jeff and Sondra are extremely passionate about the next generation of agriculturalists, especially the ones they call their grandkids,” officials said.

Their seven grandchildren are setting their sights on a future FFA career.

Padgett said the Lehman’s are also very active in many ways serving their community.

For example, she said the members of First Mennonite Church in Berne have overseen a church committee overseeing a program that has collected over 100,000 cans of meat for the needy locally and worldwide.

They’ve also huge supporters of local 4-H programs and served on countless committees and boards in Adams County.

“During the county fair, you will often find Jeff around the announcer’s booth during livestock shows or offering a hand to any student who needs it,” Padgett said.

She said Sondra Lehman helps her grandchildren prepare their livestock for show during the fair and gives all the students a pep talk as they walk into the show ring.

According to the company’s website, the family grain elevator was started when Horace Lehman and his sons, Stanley and Derryl, began grinding feed for their neighbors on their dairy farm outside Berne in the mid-1950s.

In 1965, the focus turned solely to their grain and feed business after selling their cows following a Palm Sunday tornado.

The business continued to grow by adding products and services that are still offered to their customers. The services include custom applications of fertilizer and herbicides and feed delivery.

Every September, Lehman Feed Mill also hosts an equipment consignment sale in partnership with a local auction company.

From November through April, a hay, straw and firewood auction is held on the property every first and third Saturday of the month.