What can you do when the snow flies outside and you don't even feel motivated to head to the shop for the day? Do something for someone else- nominate someone who you look up to and respect, someone deserving of the Master Farmer award recognition.

We meet dozens of eligible, highly qualified nominees every year in our travels throughout Indiana. But the beauty of this contest is that nominations are made by peers, not magazine editors who don't know as much about someone as those who live and work closely with them. So the only way for a deserving farmer and his or her family to get recognition is for someone to nominate them.

Don't be bashful about nominating your spouse, dad, son, or whatever the case may be. It's a great way to honor a relative in the farming business. And even though the fruits of your labor won't show up until next summer, think of it as a Christmas present, even if the person doesn't know you're nominating them. And if your candidate is successful, it will be 'Christmas in July.' The actual recognition of next year's four new inductees into the Master Farmer award group will be made in late July at the Beck Ag Center, located at the Purdue University Agronomic Research Center, on U.S. 53 near West Lafayette.

If you're the successful nominator, you'll also get an invitation to attend. Each year's ceremony features four star speakers- the candidates who have deserved the honor, telling about their farm operation and introducing special people who have helped them develop a successful farming operation and agricultural leadership career.

The process starts by obtaining a simple nomination form. You'll need someone acquainted with the nominee's business to help supply you with the information about farming practices, assuming you're hoping to keep the nomination a surprise and not ask the nominee for input directly. How you handle that decision is strictly up to you.

Obtain a form by calling 317-738-0565, writing to Indiana Prairie Farmer, P.O. Box 247, Franklin, IN 46131, or emailing: [email protected]. The form will come with some simple, helpful hints that should help you along int eh process, and increase the odds that your candidate will be successful.

What's useful is asking up to six people who know the nominee to write letters of support. Your role is to collect them and include them when you submit the official nomination form.

Look for more details about the award process in the January issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer. The Master Farmer program is co-sponsored in Indiana by Indiana Prairie Farmer and the Purdue University College of Agriculture.