We Are Indiana Agriculture: The Walkers

By Sarah Mahan of This Farm Family's Life

Jennifer and Jacob Walker of Dekalb County are both Purdue University graduates with majors in agriculture.  They have two kids Ryan, 2 ½, and Leann, 1 ½, who love coming to the farm, because as Jacob says, “It’s special to have them there.”  After graduation, Jacob worked off the farm for 3 years before coming back to the farm his grandparents started.  “My dad and grandpa farmed separately, but worked together.  In 2001, we lost my grandparents in an accident and my parents continued the operation.  I was fortunate to be able to come into a rolling operation and have the opportunity to help grow it and continue to be successful in the future,” Jacob says.

The Walkers both grew up on farms; Jennifer hails from a family dairy operation, where she was actively involved in the daily milking and harvesting aspects of the farm.  “Growing up on farms definitely has shaped who we are today and we hope our kids continue to have that same opportunity.”  On the current farm, the Walkers raise corn, soybeans, and wheat.  They also bale large square bales of straw and run a Beck’s seed dealership.  Jennifer works as a district conservationist for the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Jennifer and Jacob were the proud recipients of the Young Farmer Achievement Award from Indiana Farm Bureau.  This award is based on their efforts in production agriculture and leadership achievement. 

“The process for the award starts by filling out the application,” Jacob explains.  “There are three finalists that go on to have 20-minute interviews…  We appreciated the application process for several reasons: It focused mostly on your accomplishments in your operation with involvements being important as well.  The applications get judged blind, so your name and hometown isn’t known until the final three.  One of the most difficult things was getting across everything you wanted in a 20-minute interview.  We learned a lot during the process and enjoyed documenting our journey.”

Jacob feels the Young Farmer program through Farm Bureau is important because of the demographics of people in production agriculture.  “There are fewer young people coming back to production agriculture all the time and this program focus on some of that.  There are few other programs across the country that put a focus solely on the next generation of agriculture and that provide a meaningful organization for them.  This award recognizes accomplishments of the individuals and promotes the Young Farmer Program.”

Jacob’s advice to a young farmer who is considering joining the family farm, “Go do something else for a while.  Don’t come straight back to the farm.  Set goals.  Make sure you’re able to make your own mistakes and make meaningful decisions without only riding on the coattail of the previous generation.  Have something that’s yours and take initiative.  Have a mentor.  Make sure there’s proper organizational structure and that it’s clear what everyone’s roles are.  Learn from the people that helped get you where you are and recognize that through the process.”

To learn more about the Walker's farm, visit their website, www.walker-farms.com.

Farm to Table

This summer, we partnered five farm bloggers with five non-farm bloggers to participate in a two part series that would take them from the farm to the grocery store to learn more about where their food comes from. Below are links to not only their experiences but a lot of yummy recipes as well!

Ground Beef Tacos from Angie of Just Like the Number

20-Minute Skillet Pizza from Leah of Beyer Beware

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe from Ann-Marie of Chaos is Bliss

Super Easy Pizza Casserole from Heather of 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs

Italian Beef Sandwiches from Crystal of Mom for Less

Crock Pot Lasagna Soup from Jeanette of Fencerow to Fencerow

Homemade Baked Ziti from Ashley of Simply Designing

Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles from Jent of Farmwife Feeds

Baked Turkey Meatballs from Steph of Indy Homeschool

Fiesta Chicken Chowder from Liz of The Farmwife Cooks

I am Indiana Agriculture: Dan Doles

By Sarah Mahan of This Farm Family's Life

Dan Doles of Greensburg has been around farming his entire life.  His great, great grandfather, Isaac Doles, settled the parcel of land where Dan currently lives in 1836.  “I have helped farm the family farm since I was in high school.  We raised beef cattle, hogs, and crops.  At one time, we used to have a cow herd of about 200 cows that calved in the spring and fall, as well as purchasing feeder cattle to feed out.  Our swine operation was much smaller with a farrow-to-finish operation consisting of about 80 sows.  At that time, I was farming with my father, uncle, and cousin.  My father and uncle have since retired and the family has divided the farm acreage, and my brother-in-law and sister currently farm the ‘home’ farm which my father owns.”  Dan has two sisters, one of whom lives in North Carolina and the other lives just southwest of Greensburg, raising her family and farming with her husband.  They also sell products from their operation to local farmers’ markets.

In the winter of 1987, Dan attended a short course at Purdue University studying agriculture.  Then, in June 2015, he spent 4 weeks at Texas A&M University training for his current career as an Enforcement, Investigation, and Analysis Officer (EIAO).  Dan works for the Meat and Poultry Inspection Division of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), where he began as a meat inspector, then was promoted to EIAO in January of 2015.  “I am responsible for conducting Food Safety Assessments (FSAs) at official meat processing establishments throughout this great state of Indiana.  An FSA is an in-depth assessment of an establishment’s food safety and sanitation procedures that ensure the meat and poultry products they process are safe to eat.  I also directly observe employees in the performance of their duties to verify if they are following  safe food processing and handling methods.”

When asked why he decided to become a meat inspector, Dan said that in 2005 he took a part-time job working in one of the state-inspected processing establishments on the slaughter floor handling the live animals. That is where he met the BOAH inspectors who monitored the plant.  “In 2009, my father and I had a meeting and decided it was not economical for us to continue to purchase feeder cattle and fatten them out for market.  We decided to rent the farm ground and phase-out feeding cattle,” explained Dan, who had to seek other work.   “I informed the inspection staff, before I resigned, to call me if a position in my area opened up. In 2011, a position opened, and I was hired as a meat inspector.  I have found it has been a wonderful career change and I have no regrets.”

Consumers are once again concerned about antibiotics in the meat they purchase.   Dan offered this piece of information to ease consumer’s minds: “State Meat and Poultry Inspection inspectors collect random drug residue samples, as well as USDA-directed residue samples.  Any meat that tests positive for antibiotic drug residue is condemned for human consumption.”

In his free time Dan likes to be outdoors hunting, fishing, shooting/archery, and playing golf.  He also likes to volunteer his time helping his friend with his Hunter Education Course a couple of times each year.

We Are Indiana Agriculture: Kamille Brawner

By Sarah Mahan of This Farm Family's Life

Twenty-one-year-old Kamille Brawner is a junior at Purdue University who lives and breathes dairy farming.  She is majoring in Ag Business Marketing with a minor in Animal Science.  Kamille is a proud fourth-generation dairy farmer from Hanover.  “Dairy farming has always been a huge part of my life and helped shape me into the person I am today.  Even though I’m away at college, I still go home as much as possible and help out on the farm.  I have two older sisters and an older brother, and our job growing up was to help on the farm where it was needed.  Most of my fondest memories from my childhood are from helping on the farm.  On Christmas morning, the farm work had to be done before we could open our presents.  That’s still how it is, and I don’t know any other way.”

Kamille is the daughter of Greg and Teresa Brawner. She says that her brother and dad currently work together on the farm.  The Brawners milk 200 cows, primarily Holsteins.  They also raise corn, soybeans, and hay.  Kamille stays as active as possible in the dairy industry.  Last summer she interned for Organic Valley which allowed her to tour other dairy farms in her area.  She served as the 2014-2015 Indiana Dairy Princess, allowing her to attend the Indiana State Fair and visit the dairy barn and shows to speak with farmers and leaders about the dairy industry.  She also hosted events at her local high school to promote dairy.  Last year, during school, Kamille was also actively involved with the American Dairy Association of Indiana.  “Next summer I will actually be doing something completely different for me and will be interning at John Deere in Iowa.  Everything I have done up until now has involved dairy, so I’m anxious to try something new.  I am still looking forward to doing anything dairy when I’m not working for John Deere.”

Animal care is a top priority for the Brawners.  “We always make sure the cows have fresh sawdust for bedding, and their stalls are always clean.  In the summer, when it is hot, we have fans to help them keep cool and we spray them with water while they are waiting to be milked or if they are lactating, as that greatly increases their body temperature.  The cows are always on fresh pasture during the summer months, and we rotate it every 2 days.  They are also fed a very balanced ration to make sure they are getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need to stay healthy and produce milk.  In the winter, we have tarps in the parlor, where the cows are milked, that come down for added warmth.  We also perform regular herd checks.  Each cow has a monitoring device, which is an ear tag, that allows us to monitor their health closely.”

We Are Indiana Agriculture: Indiana Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farm Families

By Sarah Mahan of This Farm Family's Life

Each year, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. recognizes outstanding young farm families for two awards:  The Excellence in Ag Award and the Achievement Award. From all of the applications received, three finalists are selected for each award based on their personal accomplishments and community involvement. Meet this year’s final three for each of these prestigious awards:

Excellence in Ag Finalists

Mike and Sarah Hertsel

Mike and Sarah Hertsel live in Syracuse, Ind., along with their three children: Elizabeth, 7, George, 4, and Caroline who is nearly 2.  Mike worked for 10 years as a livestock feed specialist.  Then one day, one of Mike’s customers provided him with a chance to work on a grain and livestock farm.  Sarah is a homemaker as well as a cosmetologist at a local salon.

During high school, Mike and Sarah were active in 4-H and FFA.  Shortly after college, Mike became involved with Farm Bureau.  Mike and Sarah are currently active with Ag in the Classroom farm tours, food checkout day, their county tractor parade group, and the Your Food at the Fair scavenger hunt.

Jeff and Jenna Demerly

Jeff and Jenna Demerly moved to his home county of White County nearly 4 years ago.  They have three children: Adalynn, 5, Austin, 3, and Archer, 1. Jeff owns a business that sells Pioneer seed, crop insurance risk management, and general consulting.  His job consists of working with farmers closely to help maximize their profitability through the growing and harvesting of corn, soybeans, and wheat.  “I wake up each morning feeling blessed to have this opportunity, and I take it very seriously.”

Jeff has served as chairman of the Young Farmer Committee, board member, and vice president, then was elected as president in 2013.  Not only is he involved with Farm Bureau, but he is also active with 4-H, FFA, and their church.

Jeremy and Lindsay Barron

Jeremy and Lindsay Barron of Noble County keep themselves busy by being involved in their community and Farm Bureau and by chasing their two boys around: Lane, 4, and Lawson, 19 months.

Jeremy graduated from American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Partners in Agricultural Leadership, is a member of AFBF’s grassroots GO Team and made it to the Final Four in the national discussion meet at last year’s AFBF convention in San Diego.

The financial services lead for Cargill Risk Management, Jeremy helps grain, livestock, and dairy farmers better manage their risk and increase their profitability.

Lindsay’s primary job is being a wife and mom as well as helping with farm finances.  She also manages the Ole Milk House which is a repurposed milking parlor where she sells antiques and primitives.

Achievement Award Finalist

Jacob and Jennifer Walker

Jake and Jennifer Walker live in DeKalb County with their two children: Ryan, 2 ½, and Leann, 1 ½.   Jake credits college, working in sales for a farm management software company, and owning a precision ag business for helping him better manage his farming partnership with his parents. 

Jake came back to farm full-time in 2008. The Walkers raise 4,950 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.  They also do custom straw baling, tiling, excavating and manage a Beck’s seed dealership.  Jennifer is a district conservationist with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.  Jake recently joined the board of directors for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and is the co-founder for a regional pro-ag group called Friends of Agriculture.  They are also actively involved with their church and the Down Syndrome Association.

Mindy and Craig Fruechte

Craig Fruechte and his wife, Mindy, raise 24,000 turkeys and also farm 581 acres of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa in Decatur, Ind.  Craig and his dad also custom harvest about 700 acres for nearby farmers.  They have two children, Mason and Brielle.  The Fruechtes also raise four steers and 60 hogs that they market to their urban co-workers.

Craig and Mindy both have jobs off the farm; however, they each dream of working on the farm full-time. 

Craig currently serves as Adams County Farm Bureau vice president and Mindy is the education and outreach coordinator for the county.  They also each have a passion for 4-H, as Craig helps young showmen develop better techniques for the show ring and Mindy serves as Mini 4-H leader teaching 125 6- to 8-year-olds about agriculture.

Matt and Brianna Chapman

Matt and Brianna Chapman from Springport live on the family farm with their 1 ½ year old daughter, Grace.  They met while at Purdue University where Matt earned an associate’s degree in agricultural economics and Brianna received a bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences.  Today they each have careers in agriculture.  Brianna owns two retail flower shops in Middletown and New Castle and Matt farms about 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat with his younger brother, along with a custom hay-baling business that he started while in high school. 

Matt’s father, Tim, retired from farming in 2013which allowed him to take over the operation. Matt and his younger brother are now partners of the operation, farming the ground their father owned and rented.  Also, they have  rented additional acres.

The Chapmans are very active in Farm Bureau, as well as the Henry County Farm Bureau Young Farmer program.  Matt is currently serving as chairman and Brianna is secretary.  Both are involved in various areas of the community as well, serving on their township park board and in their church.

We Are Indiana Agriculture: The Hills

By Sarah Mahan of This Farm Family's Life

Heather and Marc Hill farm in Hancock County along with their three kids, Addison, Reese, and Hadley, and Marc’s parents, Steve and Debi.  Hill Farms raises corn, soybeans, wheat and pigs.  Marc is the 4^th generation of his family to raise pigs in Hancock County.  “All of the corn we raise on our family farm is used to feed our pigs,” Heather explains.  “We market the majority of the 13,000 pigs we raise each year to Tyson and other packers so that our pork ends up in a grocery store near you; however, we do sell a small percentage of our pigs under our private label, The Pork Shoppe.”Nearly 10 years ago, Debi and Heather started The Pork Shoppe as a way to educate their neighbors about their farm and raise some money for the Hill kids’ college by selling retail pork cuts directly to consumers via farmer’s markets and other retail locations.  “I created the business plan as a part of my final project when I received my MBA.  Today we sell pork under The Pork Shoppe label year-round at  the Farmer’s Market at the fairgrounds in Greenfield, the Statehouse Market from May to October, Tuttle Orchards, the online Hoosier Harvest Market and via appointment.”

All of the pigs at Hill Farms are raised the same, whether they are selling them to Tyson or for The Pork Shoppe.  “Our pigs are our top priority on our family farm and ensuring that we raise healthy pigs so that our family and all of yours have safe and nutritious pork to eat is what it is all about.  Our family is proud to carry on the tradition that was started by our family so many years ago and to be able to build upon their knowledge and combine it with current education to make the best decisions for our animals.  My grandfather died over 25 years ago, and I can only wish that he could see how we raise our pigs today.”

So, whether you buy pork at the grocery store or the farmers’ markets, as a former Indiana Pork Producers Association President, Heather can ensure you that the farmers who raised those pigs provided the best care possible to their pigs.

You can follow along with Heather’s family’s adventures at www.3kidsandlotsofpigs.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/3kidsandlotsofpigs, and on Twitter and Instagram at @proudporkmom.

We Are Indiana Agriculture: The Schoettmers

By Sarah Mahan of This Farm Family's Life

Keith Schoettmer and his wife of 33 years, Darla, started Schoettmer Prime Pork, Inc. in Tipton, Ind. in 1987. Their pig farm began when they bought a 450-sow operation on contract from another farmer. “We built aggressively through the 90’s and slowly worked our way up to 1050 sows, which is our current sow inventory.  We place the highest emphasis on herd health.” The first-generation farm is a farrow-to-finish pig farm that raises nearly 23,000 pigs per year from the 1050 sows. “This is a daily inventory of around 12,000 head kept in 13 barns, including three off-site units.” The Schoettmers do not farm any row crops; however, they purchase nearly 225,000 bushels of corn, used for pig feed, from neighbors.

The Purdue University graduate cares strongly about the welfare of his animals. “The first step is to be sure we have the right, well-trained people in place to care for the animals every day, 365 days a year. We constantly monitor the environment the animals live in to make them as comfortable as possible. We are also constantly analyzing the nutrition of the pigs to be sure they have balanced feed every day.”

Keith and Darla are the parents of four children, three of whom are married. They also have four grandchildren with two on the way. Keith says that God is a very integral part of their farm. “We have a staff of eight people on our farm.  This includes a full-time maintenance person and two managers who oversee the production on a daily basis. We value our employees both on and off the farm and start each day with a staff devotion and prayer.”

So, where can you buy pork from Schoettmer Prime Pork, Inc.? Keith explains, “We do not sell direct to consumers, but through Indiana Packers in Delphi, so if you buy Indiana Kitchen Pork, you may have eaten some of our product!”