Membership keyboard_arrow_down
  • Become a Member
  • County Farm Bureau
  • INFB Insurance
  • My Member Deals
  • Renew Your Membership
  • INFB Health Plans
  • INFB Health Plans FAQ
Our Programs keyboard_arrow_down
  • Agriculture in the Classroom
  • L.E.A.D. Program
  • Women's Leadership Committee
  • Young Farmers & Ag Professionals
Public Policy keyboard_arrow_down
  • National Issues
  • State Issues
  • Public Policy Team Contacts
  • Water
  • Take Action
  • Policy Development
  • Political Action Committees
  • Property Tax Notice of Assessments
  • Considerations for Solar Leases
  • Ag Economy Insights
News keyboard_arrow_down
  • Indiana Farm Bureau In the News
  • News Releases
  • Publications
  • Media Contact Information
  • Social Media
  • Podcast - The Breakdown with INFB
Events keyboard_arrow_down
  • Webinars and Recorded Calls
  • Events
Resources keyboard_arrow_down
  • County Farm Bureau
  • For Volunteers
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Scholarships and Grants
  • H-2A Labor Services
  • Buy from Local Farms
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Broadband Speed Test
  • Black Vulture Depredation
  • Hot Topics in Ag
About keyboard_arrow_down
  • Mission
  • Leadership
  • Staff
  • County Farm Bureau
  • History
  • Careers
  • Contact
Logout
Login
Join
My Account
search

Membership Our Programs Public Policy News Events Resources About Logout Login Join My Account
menu
  1. Home
  2. ...
  3. News
  4. News Article

News Article

News Article

Stay Informed

 

Farmers from White, Henry Counties Win INFB Young Farmer Awards

Aug 8, 2017, 09:00 AM by Molly Zentz, Marketing Team
INFB announces the 2017 winners of two of its top young farmer awards: the Achievement Award and the Excellence in Agriculture Award. Matthew and Brianna Chapman of Henry County will receive the Achievement Award, which recognizes young farmer's leadership abilities and what they have achieved with their farms. Jeff Demerly of White County was chosen for the Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

Contact:
Molly Zentz
317-692-7822
765-469-3150
mzentz@infb.org

(Indianapolis) – August 8, 2017 – Jeff Demerly of White County and Matthew and Brianna Chapman of Henry County are the winners of two of Indiana Farm Bureau’s top awards for young farmers in 2017, the Achievement Award and the Excellence in Agriculture Award.

Two distinguished panels of judges evaluated this year’s participants. Achievement Award candidates were judged on their leadership abilities and on what they have achieved with their farms, while Excellence in Agriculture candidates were judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.

  • Jeff Demerly of Wolcott, Indiana (White County), won the INFB Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes young farmers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation they own. Demerly will receive a John Deere Gator, a $3,000 cash prize and an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the national contest. 

     

  • Matthew and Brianna Chapman of Springport, Indiana (Henry County), won the INFB Young Farmer Achievement Award, which recognizes young farmers who earn the majority of their income from their farms. The Chapmans will receive a $6,000 cash prize, 250 hours’ free use of one M-Series Kubota tractor and an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the national contest.

PortraitWithKids_Demerly2017_0005Jeff Demerly grew up working on his family’s row crop farm and was actively engaged with FFA and 4-H. After graduating from college, he became removed from farming, but a few years later, he felt the pull to rejoin the ag industry. With the help of his wife, Jenna, he created his own agricultural retail business, Demerly Ag Plus. Their business sells, markets and promotes seed inputs, as well as crop insurance risk management and general profit consulting.

“Applying for this award was a life gauge for me, a way to sit down and evaluate myself throughout the year and what I was doing on behalf of my business, my family and my community,” said Jeff. “Since applying, I’ve watched myself grow, watched the business grow, watched my community grow and watched my family grow.”

He is also an active White County Farm Bureau member.

“I started my experience with Indiana Farm Bureau through the Young Farmer program,” said Jeff. “It didn’t take long for me to grab onto every opportunity I could within the organization. I moved into a variety of roles and became vice president for a year and I now fill the role of president of White County Farm Bureau.”

Matthew and Brianna Chapman both majored in agriculture in college and have been focused on excelling in many aspects of the agriculture industry ever since. Matthew is a third generation farmer. He and his family farm corn, soybeans and wheat in Henry County and manage two swine barns all while owning a commercial trucking company. Matthew works full time on the farm while Brianna operates two retail flower shops.

FamilyPortrait_Chapman2017_0043“After we graduated from Purdue, we started a Young Farmer program in Henry County and we tried to get really involved in our county Farm Bureau,” said Matthew.
“We made friends at the state Young Farmer convention and decided to be Young Farmer reps for the state. We did that for two years and we made friends for life.”

He explained the struggle many family farmers face as they attempt to expand the farm to incorporate children or additional family members.  

“For every young farmer, it can be difficult to find your way and expand the farm so that you have an income to come back to,” explained Matthew. “Any young farmer needs to be creative in the ways you diversify your operation.”

These state awards are conducted as a part of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Award competition. Demerly and the Chapman’s will represent Indiana in AFBF’s Young Farmer & Rancher Achievement and Excellence in Agriculture competitions at the AFBF Annual Convention in January in Nashville, Tennessee. They will compete against young farmers and ranchers from across the country.

Winners and finalists will be formally recognized at the INFB state convention in December.

###

About Indiana Farm Bureau: Since 1919, Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) has protected the livelihood, land, equipment, animals and crops of Hoosier farmers. It is the state’s largest general farm organization and a farmer’s strongest advocate. INFB works diligently to ensure a farmer’s very right to farm, because agriculture is so vital to Indiana’s economy.  Learn more at INFB.org.


News

Indiana Farm Bureau In the News News Releases Publications Media Contact Information Social Media Podcast - The Breakdown with INFB

 

 

Quick Links

  • Membership
  • Our Programs
  • Public Policy
  • News
  • Events
  • Resources
  • About
  • Careers

Terms & Policy

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Texting Privacy Policy
  • Texting Terms and Conditions

Get in Touch

  • 225 South East St. Indianapolis, IN 46202
  • P.O. Box 1290 Indianapolis, IN 46206
  • (800) 327-6287
facebook-icon twitter-page youtube-page instagram-page pinterest-page

Copyright © 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau®, Inc. is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation®, a national organization of farmers and ranchers including Farm Bureau® organizations in 49 other states and Puerto Rico, and is responsible for Farm Bureau membership and programs within the State of Indiana.