Isabella Chism, former Indiana Farm Bureau 2nd vice president and chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee, was the 2023 recipient of the President’s Award from INFB President Randy Kron.
The award recognizes her outstanding leadership during her years of service to agriculture and Farm Bureau.
Chism was elected 2nd vice president in 2006 but decided not to run for reelection when her term expired in 2023. This is only the second time since he became president in 2016 that Kron has elected to present this award.
A summary of some of the other convention highlights follows.
Agriculture in the Classroom Volunteer of the Year
AITC relies on the help of many volunteers. The Volunteer of the Year Award honors an Ag in the Classroom educator who has gone above and beyond for the program in educating the public about the important role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.
This year’s recipient is Rachel Peden McCarty from Monroe County. A graduate of Franklin College, Peden McCarty has made it part of her responsibility to “educate the educators” about the resources Farm Bureau can provide. She personally met with half of the 32 elementary schools in the county and has been active in the home-school arena.
Book of the Year
My Family’s Corn Farm by Katie Olthoff is the 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau Book of the Year. The goal of the BOTY program, which was launched by the Women’s Leadership Committee in 2017, is to provide county Farm Bureaus and Ag in the Classroom volunteers an additional tool to promote agriculture in their communities. Since its inception, INFB and county Farm Bureaus have distributed more than 10,000 books to schools, teachers and libraries.
County Activities of Excellence (CAE) program
Five counties received the CAE award, which is designed to celebrate innovative, action-oriented programs developed by county Farm Bureaus. The categories for these awards mirror the categories of INFB’s strategic plan – advocacy, innovate, adding value and growing engagement.
Each winning county will receive a $2,000 cash prize to be applied toward improving a program in that county, and they were eligible to send two members each to INFB’s annual state convention with expenses paid.
Hovde Award
Ken Foster, Purdue University professor of ag economics, received the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to Rural People of Indiana. The award is presented with the support of INFB and is given annually to a Purdue faculty or staff member to recognize outstanding educational contributions to the well-being and progress of rural Indiana and to encourage continued achievement and service.
L.E.A.D. graduates
Members of the 2023 graduating class for the INFB L.E.A.D. program were recognized: Ethan Hunter, Lawrence County; Justin Johnson, Whitley County; Katherine Litts, Orange County; Lindsay Yeager, Hamilton County; Natalie Harris, Harrison County; Ryan DePew, DeKalb County; and Waylon Bradley, Washington County.
L.E.A.D. (which stands for “leadership, education, action and development”) is for individuals interested in enhancing their leadership skills, building their professional network, and understanding socioeconomic impacts on the agricultural industry.
YF&AP Discussion Meet
Kylie Wheeler of Henry County is the winner of the 2023 INFB Discussion Meet and now advances to the national Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet, to be held during the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention Jan. 19-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
As the winner of the Discussion Meet, she receives a $4,000 cash prize from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and expenses paid to the national convention. The three runners-up, who each receive $1,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, were Cody Pate of Posey County, Austin Sinders of Clay County and Caleb Purkhiser of Washington County.
Other YF&AP Awards
The convention also served as an opportunity to recognize the winners of the YF&AP Achievement, Excellence in Agriculture and Rising Star awards, who were announced this fall. The winners were Mark and Jessica Wenning, Henry County, Achievement Award; Chelsea O’Brien, Spencer County, Excellence in Agriculture; and Rachel Hyde, Hamilton County, Rising Star.
Giving back