Cave named vice president of product support at Redline

ARCHBOLD, Ohio — Redline Equipment has named Paul Cave vice president of Product Support of its CASE IH dealership. In this new position he will lead all facets of aftermarket support, focusing on the customer experience and bringing value to customers.

Cave comes from Whayne Supply where he was the Ag and Growth Industries sales manager. Prior to that he served as Product Support sales manager and regional sales manager. He previously worked at Miles Farm Supply, where he was the general manager, and started his career at Richway Industries as Ag Sales manager.

Redline Equipment has 11 locations throughout Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

INFB honors outstanding volunteers at spring conference

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Hoosier farmers attended Indiana Farm Bureau’s (INFB) 2018 Spring Conference, hosted by the INFB Women’s Leadership Committee, an annual event that provides professional development and networking opportunities for members.

At this year’s conference, nearly $5,000 was collected for the Farm Bureau Foundation benefiting the Carolyn Hegel Memorial Scholarship Fund. The money was raised by attendees who participated in a silent auction and a live auction. In addition, several members were honored for their accomplishments and volunteer efforts in 2017.

Marlene Fudge of Rush County was named Volunteer of the Year for INFB’s Ag in the Classroom program. Fudge was chosen for this award because she went above and beyond to educate Indiana’s youth about agriculture in 2017. She is an active member of Rush County Farm Bureau, where she serves as the county’s education and outreach coordinator.

INFB also named five members as 2018 Reaching Out award recipients. The award is also given to Ag in the Classroom volunteers that show a true commitment to the program and to volunteering in their county’s schools. This year’s winners were Caren Crum, Carroll County; Miriam Ruppel, Wabash County; Debbie Allen, Switzerland County; Lynda Bauerle, Jennings County; and Deborah Trotter, Clark County.

INFB volunteers who have participated in Ag in the Classroom for 25 years are Erna Loyd, Spencer County; Maryann Maschino, Jennings County; Lynda Phillips, Ohio County; Marvis Loveall, Parke County; Treva Smith, Parke County; and Helen Witte, Wells County.

Also recognized were White and Clinton counties’ Farm Bureaus, each of which won an ag education and promotion development grant from INFB. White County won for its Neighborhood Food Oasis Program and Clinton County, for its Community Garden Project for Food Insecurity.

Hoosier producers awarded sustainable agriculture grants

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Several Indiana producers were recently chosen to receive grants from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) for various projects.

Heather Reynolds with Indiana University in Bloomington will receive a $28,394 grant for the project "Making the Most of Mulch: Strategic Systems for Small Organic Tomato Growers."

Linda Woodbury with Nature's Gift, LLC in Morgantown will receive $22,500 for the Hoosier Harvest 365 Hospital Delivery Program.

Liz Brownlee with Nightfall Farm in Crothersville will receive $15,000 for planning for a farmer-to-farmer butcher shop.

Richard Barnes with Tanglewood Berry Farm in Fort Wayne will receive $22,474 for improving worker welfare and grower profitability in small-scale strawberry production.

Matthew Jose with Mad Farmers Collective in Indianapolis will receive $6,210 for designing a cost-efficient salad greens wash area for small-scale growers.

Brevan DeWeese with Country Boy Farm & Garden in Russiaville will receive $6,499 for the project "Creating a Micro Farm: Using Everything, Wasting Nothing and Inspiring Young People to Do the Same."

Timothy Carter with Honey Creek Farm in Russiaville will receive $3,300 for pasture-crop tests without chemical termination.

Karen Carlisle with Cicero Farm Market in Noblesville will receive $7,493 for increasing yields, plant vigor and soil health with the use of wood chips.

These grants were awarded as part of NCR-SARE's Partnership Grant Program, intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration and education activities related to sustainable agriculture.

Learn more about the NCR-SARE Partnership Grant Program online at www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Partnership-Grant-Program

Johnston appointed to marketing manager for BKT USA

FAIRLAWN, Ohio — BKT USA, Inc. and BKT Tires, Inc. are pleased to announce the appointment of Leigh Johnston to role of marketing manager for BKT USA. She will be responsible for all marketing activities including brand building, planning Trade Shows and customer events, managing the sponsorship of Monster Jam, product advertising and promotional campaigns.

Johnston is a graduate of The Ohio State University in journalism and communications and has worked on her master’s in business from Wright State University. She worked at Trelleborg Wheel Systems, Inc. for four years in both communications and sales capacities and has prior marketing experience in the insurance industry.

Flatt takes on new role at Tennessee Department Of Agriculture

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton announced the appointment of Whitney Flatt as the Agribusiness Development consultant for food business growth at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA).

Flatt will be responsible for developing a strategic plan for and cultivating business opportunities in food, beverage and other related sectors. She has been with TDA since 2016, serving as a program coordinator for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP).

For food and beverage manufacturing inquiries, Flatt can be emailed at whitney.flatt@tn.gov

Indiana Grown picks program manager, outreach manager

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announces the promotion of Suzi Spahr, program manager, to head up the Indiana Grown initiative, and the hire of Dana Kosco as outreach manager.

Spahr, who has been with the department since 2014, will be managing the Indiana Grown team and overseeing the strategic direction of the initiative. She will also be responsible for reviewing contracts, the budget and grants, while serving as the liaison for other state agencies and industry organizations.

Kosco is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in business management from Krannert School of Management. Prior to joining ISDA, she was the Girls Nation Program Manager for the American Legion Auxiliary, as well as the office manager for then-Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann.

As outreach manager, she has been tasked with creating fresh, innovative ways to help Indiana Grown and its membership reach new audiences and engage with more consumers. She will also be responsible for a variety of tasks, such as overseeing events, managing social media and developing the website.

UT extension selects the Tennessee Farmer of the Year

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A third-generation farmer from Jackson who manages more than 5,000 acres of row crops has been named the Tennessee Farmer of the Year by University of Tennessee extension.

Johnny Verell, who farms in partnership with his father and grandfather, John Verell Jr. and John Verell Sr., rose to the top of the competition because of his business savvy, his land stewardship and his devotion to community service. He was nominated by Danny Morris, an extension area farm management specialist for 10 West Tennessee counties, including Madison County.

Verell began farming in 2005, 40 years after his grandfather started the family business. At first he was entrusted with just 50 of the family’s 2,000 acres, which he planted in Delta & Pine Land cotton. Now he manages the entire 5,050-acre operation. At his direction, Verell Farms has moved away from cotton production to cultivating wheat, corn and soybeans.

With the help of technology and precision agriculture, Verell’s irrigated acres of corn have been known to produce in excess of 300 bushels per acre. What’s more, at 65 bushels per acre of full-season soybeans, he produced well above last year’s national average yield.

Verell graduated Jackson State Community College with an associate degree in precision agriculture and holds a B.S. in agronomy from Murray State University. He has been a member of the Madison County Farm Bureau board of directors since 2006 and was the state and national American Soybean Assoc. Young Farmer of the Year in 2012.

He will compete in Southeastern Farmer of the Year at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga. The winner from a 10-state area will be announced on the opening day of the expo, Oct. 16.

Holcomb appoints two to Indiana Soil Conservation Board

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Gov. Eric Holcomb recently announced several new appointments and reappointments to various state boards, commissions and councils.

He made two reappointments to the Soil Conservation Board, administered by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Warren Baird of Atlanta, retired, and Larry Clemens of Angola, North American agriculture director with The Nature Conservancy, will continue their board service until Nov. 30, 2021.

Holcomb also made two new appointments to the board, serving until Nov. 30, 2021: Kenny Cain of Darlington, of Cain’s Homelike Farms, and Brad Dawson of Guilford, regional sales manager with FiNN All Seasons.

AgrIInstitute selects Class 18 of Ag Leadership Program

DANVILLE, Ind. — Thirty of Indiana’s top farmers and agribusiness leaders have been selected to participate in the 18th class of the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP), sponsored by AgrIInstitute, Inc.

During the two-year program, ALP class members will attend 10 seminars throughout Indiana, spend one week studying in Washington, D.C., and meeting with national leaders and study 10-14 days internationally.

 Selected to participate in Class 18 of the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program are: Ray Allison, Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center; Jackie Barber, American Dairy Assoc. Indiana; Virgil Bremer, B&B Cattle; Daniel Collignon, German American Bank; Jeff Cummins, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA);

Meggie Foster, CountryMark; Jason Glenn, Maple Leaf Farms; Rob Hays, Indiana FFA; Sam Hennessee, Bayer Crop Science; Guy Herrell, Integrity BioFuels; Matthew House, Beck’s Superior Hybrids; Brett Jones, Ingredion; Rebecca Joniskan, Indiana Department. of Environmental Management;

Myron McClure, Purdue University; John Metzger, Elanco; Nick Michel, Superior Ag Cooperativel; Matt Nidlinger, Consolidated Grain & Barge; Amie Osborn, First Farmers Bank & Trust; Thomas Parker, Parker Farms; Chelsea Poe, Indiana Farm Bureau; Todd Rodibaugh, National Pork; Morgan Saltsgiver, ATC Group;

Brianna Schroeder, Janzen Ag Law; Somula Schwoeppe, Schwoeppe Dairy; Kyle Shipman, Indiana State Board of Animal Health; Suzi Spahr, ISDA; Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, The Nature Conservancy; Sarah Wagler, Nutrient Management; Nathan Wainscott, Land O’ Lakes; and Laura Watenpool, Elanco.

For more information about the program, contact AgrIInstitute at 317-745-0947 or beth@agriinstitute.org and visit www.agriinstitute.org

Three Power to Do More contest winners selected

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Thousands of online votes were cast, and three farmers were named winners of the “Power to Do More” contest. Out of 10 finalists, Shirley Schroeder of Le Mars, Iowa, Shana Guttery of Alton, Kan., and Charles Krause of Buffalo, Minn., received the most votes in the contest, sponsored by Resicore corn herbicide from Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont.

Corteva is donating a total of $30,000 to the three winners’ communities and a trip for two to their dream sports field.

Schroeder submitted a photo of her multigenerational family, noting they believe there is no greater calling than to feed the world. She described the family members’ powerful enthusiasm they bring to all areas of their operation, leading to personal fulfillment and financial success.

As a winner, she will receive two tickets to a baseball game at Wrigley Field this fall, plus $10,000 for the MMCRU school FFA program in her hometown.

In appreciation of their effort and participation, Corteva is also donating $1,000 to each community organization nominated by the remaining seven finalists, including area winners: Dean Atkins, for Prairie Central High School’s track and football field in Chenoa, Ill.; Jonathan Lawler, for Eastern Hancock School’s sports program in Greenfield, Ind.; and Ryan Heiniger, for Mediapolis FFA in Mediapolis, Iowa.

USDA makes Plant Variety Protection Board appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of 14 members to serve two-year terms on the Plant Variety Protection Board. Two alternate members were also appointed.

Newly appointed members include: Katherine White of Detroit, Mich., from the academia sector; Wendell Shauman (Alternate) of Kirkwood, Ill., from the farm sector; from the general interest sector, Heidi Nebel of Des Moines, Iowa; government sector representative Brent Burchett of Frankfort, Ky.; and from the seed industry sector, John Duesing of Johnston, Iowa.

The Plant Variety Protection Act secures intellectual property rights for developers of new varieties of plants. The board members represent farmers, seed industry, trade and professional associations and public and private research institutions.

AgriNovus adds startup, state executives to board of directors

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — AgriNovus Indiana, the state’s initiative to promote and accelerate the growth of the agbiosciences sector, has added new members to its board of directors: Ellie Symes, CEO of The Bee Corp.; Johnny Park, vice president of research for DTN, Inc.; Micah Vincent, director of the Indiana Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and David Roberts, chief innovation officer for the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

Symes is co-founder and CEO of The Bee Corp. Launched in 2016, it assists beekeepers in reducing beehive loss through Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics. She earned her master of public affairs in information systems in 2018 and a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Management in 2016 from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Park is the vice president of research at DTN and founder of Spensa Technologies, which was acquired by DTN in March 2018. He is passionate about agricultural innovation that will reduce reliance on manual labor, foster eco-friendly farming and enhance crop production efficiency. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University.

Vincent previously served as the OMB's general counsel and policy director, and as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Local Governance Finance, among other roles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue and a law degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Roberts previously served as president of the Battery Innovation Center at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park, among other appointments. He received a law degree from the McKinney School of Law, where he served on the Indiana Law Review, and a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering from Lehigh University.

Tractor Supply shareholders elect Jackson to board

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Shareholders of Tractor Supply Co. elected Denise L. Jackson to its board of directors at the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

They also reelected directors Cynthia T. Jamison, Peter D. Bewley, Thomas A. Kingsbury, Ramkumar Krishnan, George MacKenzie, Edna K. Morris, Mark J. Weikel and Gregory A. Sandfort (CEO and director).

With the election of Jackson, Johnston C. Adams has retired from the board. He did not stand for reelection. The total number of directors remains at nine members.

Family Farms appoints Rogge-Fidler as new CEO

BRIGHTON, Ill. — Family Farms LLC is pleased to announce it has appointed Shari Rogge-Fidler as its new CEO, effective immediately. A native of Nebraska, she is a fifth-generation farmer with extensive experience in national and international agribusiness.

Family Farms LLC, comprised of Family Farms Group and related companies, serves a growing network of family farms. In January 2018, after 50 years’ service to the world of agriculture, Allen Lash, founder and longtime CEO, announced his intention to retire upon appointment of a successor.