INDIANAPOLIS – Two farmers, Sarah Delbecq, of Auburn, Ind., and Mike Flock, of Ramsey, Ind., have been re-elected to the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) board, while a third farmer, Chris Cherry, of New Palestine, Ind., earned his first election victory in 2021.

Cherry was originally appointed to the ICGA board in 2021 to finish the term of Greenfield, Ind., farmer Ronnie Mohr, who had passed away. Cherry was elected to represent District 6 in December. District 6 includes the counties of Randolph, Henry, Wayne, Union, Fayette, Rush, Hancock, Shelby, Bartholomew, Johnson and Marion.

Cherry has been a full-time farmer since 1999 in rural Hancock County. He grows corn, wheat and soybeans, and he also operates Cherry Ag Service. Previously, Cherry served as a director on the Indiana Soybean Alliance board. He also has a bachelor’s degree from Franklin College. “I want to help develop and work on the policies and legislation that will benefit Indiana’s corn farmers,” Cherry said of his goals with ICGA.

Delbecq, who is a past president of ICGA, was re-elected to represent District 3, which covers the counties of Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Blackford, Jay, Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Randolph and Steuben. A full-time farmer, Delbecq raises corn, soybeans and wheat in rural DeKalb and Noble counties. She is the sixth generation to work her farm, and her farm implements many conservation practices.

Delbecq earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Georgetown University, and she has achieved a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a master’s of agricultural economics from Purdue University. She also serves as a director on the Indiana Corn Marketing Council board and has volunteered with the Indiana Farm Bureau and the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

“I hope to continue to represent Indiana corn farmers and advocate for their interests on policy issues at the federal, state and local levels. Delbecq said.

Flock was re-elected in District 9, which includes Brown, Monroe, Lawrence, Bartholomew, Jackson, Washington, Scott, Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jennings, Decatur, Franklin, Dearborn, Ohio, Jefferson and Switzerland counties. Flock grows corn, soybeans and wheat on his rural Harrison County farm that has been in his family for more than 100 years. A full-time farmer, he began farming in 1972. Flock has served on the ICGA board since 2015.

Flock is also a former director on the Indiana Soybean Alliance board, and he was also on the board for the Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District. “I want to help local farmers to meet and engage with state and national lawmakers,” Flock said of his ICGA service.

This year’s elections are scheduled for districts 2, 5 and 8. Ballots will be mailed to ICGA members this summer. Winners will begin a three-year term in December. 

“Joining the ICGA board provides a farmer a seat at the table to determine what policy priorities this organization will support,” said Cherry. “Perspectives from different areas of the state and different types of farms are needed to ensure that all Indiana corn growers are represented in Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis.”

To be eligible, candidates must be an ICGA member in good standing; own, manage or operate a farm that produces corn; reside in the district they represent; and be current on ICGA membership dues. The following districts will have elections this year:

District 2 includes all of St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Starke, Fulton, Pulaski, Miami, Wabash, and parts of Cass, Kosciusko and LaPorte counties.

District 5 includes all of Delaware, Tipton, Madison, Grant, Hamilton, and part of Howard counties.

District 8 includes all of Vermillion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Owen, Greene, Sullivan, Knox, Daviess, Martin, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry, Orange, Crawford, and part of Fountain counties.

Election applications are due back to the ICGA office by March 4. Ballots will be mailed to members this summer. To learn more about the 2022 election, find a district map or download an application, visit www.incorn.org/ICGAelections.