When the public policy team at Indiana Farm Bureau searched for a new team member, Dana Carter emerged as the clear choice.

Carter began her role as the political engagement manager (a new position at INFB) in September, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more suited for the role. Before joining her new team, Carter spent 12 years working in state and local government.

She also spent three years as a consultant working with municipalities and nonprofit organizations. During that time, she performed a myriad of tasks for her clients including strategic planning, grant proposals, grant budgeting and social media duties.

Carter also has an agricultural background having grown up on farms in Putnam and Hendricks counties. She was a member of 4-H for 10 years.  

As the political engagement manager, Carter will use her past experiences in her new position to develop and coordinate political education and engagement for INFB members as well as county Farm Bureaus. She also will develop and execute fundraising strategies for candidates and issue advocacy campaigns.

One of Carter’s main areas of focus is INFB’s newly created state political action committee, AgELECT.

“AgELECT helps create a collective voice for supporters of agriculture to influence impactful elections,” she said. “This will increase INFB’s political clout and increase policy implementation effectiveness.”

Carter was raised in Stilesville, Indiana, and she now lives in Brownsburg. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Indianapolis where she studied pre-law and political science. She also has a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Carter is currently working to complete a master’s in leadership from Western Governors University Indiana.

Engagement doesn’t stop at work for Carter: she’s engaged to Jim Lange. In her free time, Carter enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and helping her brother work on his farm.

She also enjoys baking sweets. Her fellow employees are hoping she’ll find time to bring some into the office.