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A Hoosier farmer and agribusiness professor was voted “America’s Farmers Mom of the Year” after garnering the most votes in an online contest sponsored by American Agri-Women and Monsanto.

Susan Brocksmith of Vincennes was one of five women who were recognized as regional winners in the program. The regional winners were selected by a panel of American Agri-Women and Monsanto judges for their dedication and commitment to their families, farms, communities and the agriculture industry.

Brocksmith was chosen as national winner by online voting at AmericasFarmers.com.

“Thank you to everyone for voting because without the networking and without the support, I would never have become the national farm mom,” Brocksmith said.

2017 marks the eighth year of the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year program, which is the only program of its kind to spotlight the contributions farm moms make on their farms and in their families, communities and the agriculture industry.

For winning the regional title, Brocksmith receives $2,000 that will be directed to an eligible nonprofit organization of her choice in her community, as well as $3,000 for her personal use. As the national winner, she will receive another $2,000 to be directed to an eligible nonprofit.

She has decided to divide her $4,000 among three organizations: Helping His Hands, a local disaster relief organization and food pantry, and both North Knox and South Knox FFA.

The $3,000 awarded to her personally will be used for a mission trip to Kenya, Africa. Brocksmith said she had been struggling with a decision about the mission trip before she’d found out she’d won, and had been praying for guidance, asking whether it was fair to use her family’s money for this trip. So when she found out she’d won $3,000, that seemed to clarify everything.

“OK, God, I’m going, I’m going,” she said, summarizing her reaction. “It’s kind of cool how it worked out.”

Brocksmith and her husband, Mike, raise corn and beans near Vincennes and have two daughters, Victoria and Casandra. Her daughters were the ones who nominated her this year.

She is also the advisor for the Vincennes University Collegiate Farm Bureau and the collegiate FFA.

“Thanks to the support I received from family, friends and community, I was able to receive this award. This outpouring of support proves anything is possible,” she said. “It’s amazing what a community can do.”

To learn more about Susan, her fellow 2017 regional Mom of the Year winners or winners from years past, visit AmericasFarmers.com.