COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. – Justin Johnson was raised on a farm until he was 16, but he found a way to stay involved with agriculture for a living as an adult.

Johnson, 27, is this year’s winner of the annual Excellence in Agriculture Award from Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB).

“For those of us who grew up in it, we care a lot about this industry. It’s hard not to be involved with it. So, if you want to feel like you’re still making an impact, you got to find those ways,” he said.

Johnson has been a precision ag specialist for TRULAND Equipment, the owner of 18 John Deere dealerships in Indiana and Ohio, for more than four years since graduating from Purdue University.

He’s also a member of the board for the Whitley County branch of INFB in the northeast part of the state, and a board member with the Whitley County Agriculture Museum & 4-H Learning Center.

In January, he will begin a two-year term with INFB’s Young Farmer Committee at the state level.

“Very few people get the opportunity to grow up on a farm and that’s a blessing. I could have gone in any direction with my career, but agriculture is in my blood,” he said.

Johnson grew up on a roughly 2,500-acre farm owned by his grandparents, who raised corn, soybeans, wheat and hogs.

He was a sophomore in high school when his grandparents, wanting to get out of farming, sold their land.

In response, his parents bought a house away from the farm and Justin, after graduating from high school, went to college with an eye on a career doing something that combined farming with use of technology.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural systems management and farm management.

While at Purdue, Johnson also served as president of his Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter and won the state Collegiate Discussion Meet and the Young Farmers and Ag Professionals Discussion Meet, which he feels helped strengthen his communication skills, broaden his perspective and prepare for future leadership.

His father, Brian, and mother, Colleen, previously served on their local farm bureau board and were also involved with farm bureau at the state level.

His grandparents served on INFB’s first Young Farmer Committee.

Johnson said his parents often took him to farm bureau sponsored events, which he enjoyed.

“It’s a family tradition, I guess. Their example helped instill in me the value of leadership, service and involvement,” he said.

The Excellence in Agriculture award honors farm bureau members who receive a majority of their income away from the farm and who actively contribute and grow their involvement in farm bureau, the agriculture industry and other community organizations.

Johnson said his primary duties at work involve the data and software sides of precision ag and going to farms to diagnose issues customers are having with the latest features John Deere has added to their machinery in recent years in areas ranging from auto track to automation.

“I make sure they’re getting the most out of their technology,” he said.

He also experiences first-hand the difficulties some farms still have with access to adequate levels of broadband since he needs a good internet connection out in the field to help diagnose problems and make repairs.

Johnson’s involvement in farm bureau includes once serving on the rural broadband committee, which helped extend internet access to many previously underserved smaller communities.

“There’s always more work to do but we’ve come a long way since I started kind of working with it,” he said.

Johnson will receive an $8,000 cash prize from Farm Credit Mid-America, a $3,000 cash prize from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and an all-expenses-paid trip to Charlotte, N.C., to compete in the national Excellence in Agriculture competition at the 2027 American Farm Bureau convention in January.

“I’m excited. It’s a chance to represent Indiana at the national conference. That’s exciting,” he said.