Four Hoosiers received recognition for their outstanding support and promotion of Indiana agriculture during the Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum on March 13 in Indianapolis. “It is an honor to recognize four very deserving individuals for their service, commitment and dedication to Indiana agriculture,” said Scott Beck, vice president of Beck’s Hybrids. “Whether they are advocating for agriculture in local communities or workplaces, their contributions play a significant role to the future of our industry.”
The Beck’s Beyond the Fence awards are sponsored by Beck’s Hybrids of Atlanta, Ind., in conjunction with the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and are presented annually to individuals who are advocates of farmers and the agriculture industry across the state. “Hoosier corn and soybean farmers understand the importance of sharing the story of today’s agriculture, and Beck’s Hybrids shares that vision,” said Levi Huffman, chair of ISA’s membership and policy committee. “We are honored to recognize individuals who go above and beyond in that effort, and we appreciate Beck’s partnership that allows us to honor some great folks each year with these awards.”
The four award recipients honored for their outstanding contributions to Indiana agriculture are:
· Cindy Hoye of Fishers, Ind. received the Friend of Indiana Agriculture award for outstanding contributions to agriculture by a non-farmer. Hoye is chief executive officer of the Indiana State Fair Commission.
· Rob Winters of Ft. Wayne, Ind. received the Ag Media award for excellence in reporting about Indiana agriculture. Winters is the farm director at News Talk 1190 WOWO radio.
· David Herr of Lebanon, Ind. received the Community Betterment award, which recognizes a farmer for outstanding contributions to the community through philanthropic, service, volunteerism, donations and/or leadership projects. He farms in southern Boone County.
· Steve Hickey of Shirley, Ind. received the Ag Education Outreach award for his outstanding contribution to Indiana agricultural education. Hickey is the Director of Leadership Programs, including FFA, at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
“These four individuals have invested countless hours to help our industry grow, and make a difference in their communities, our state and our industry,” said Herb Ringel, ICGA president and farmer from Wabash, Ind. “Indiana agriculture is full of people who have a passion for our industry and it is great to be able to shine a spotlight on their efforts so they can be applauded for their efforts.”