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Spotted…in Indiana: Where was Tom when he took this picture?

Tom J. Bechman, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

March 30, 2023

1 Min Read
Hilltop Swine sign
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: If you can identify the county where this sign is located, you will be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate. Tom J. Bechman

It’s a sure bet some of you see this sign while traveling along a state highway. For the rest, if you are handy traveling the internet, you can figure out where it is located.

If you’re counting on remembering a big solar installation as a clue, you may strike out. This solar project sits alongside hog buildings, strategically located away from the highway. And the solar installation that powers all buildings on this farm takes up less than an acre.

If you know the county where this is located, send your entry to Indiana Prairie Farmer, 599 N., 100 W., Franklin, IN 46131, or email [email protected]. The winner of a drawing of all correct entries will receive a $25 gift card.

Where was Tom?

Where was Tom when he took the photo featured in Spotted…in Indiana in the March issue and in this blog? He was in a field across the road from the Co-Alliance elevator at Malden in Porter County, Ind. Thanks to everyone who guessed correctly, including the person who could even identify the owner of the truck in the picture.

And, yes, there was FFA and soil judging practice underway in the field where the picture was snapped. It was a practice site on Oct. 14 for the Indiana 4-H and FFA state soil judging contest, held the next day near Valparaiso. Congratulations to the top-placing teams, who will compete in the national soil judging contest in Oklahoma in early May.

Also, congratulations to Wayne Herlitz, winner of the gift card drawing from all correct entries. Herlitz also lives near Valparaiso.

About the Author(s)

Tom J. Bechman

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer, Farm Progress

Tom J. Bechman is editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer. He joined Farm Progress in 1981 as a field editor, first writing stories to help farmers adjust to a difficult harvest after a tough weather year. His goal today is the same — writing stories that help farmers adjust to a changing environment in a profitable manner.

Bechman knows about Indiana agriculture because he grew up on a small dairy farm and worked with young farmers as a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor before joining Farm Progress. He works closely with Purdue University specialists, Indiana Farm Bureau and commodity groups to cover cutting-edge issues affecting farmers. He specializes in writing crop stories with a focus on obtaining the highest and most economical yields possible.

Tom and his wife, Carla, have four children: Allison, Ashley, Daniel and Kayla, plus eight grandchildren. They raise produce for the food pantry and house 4-H animals for the grandkids on their small acreage near Franklin, Ind.

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