This is the fourth year that the award program recognizing new Master Farmers is also the evening program for the Indiana Farm Management Tour. It's on Monday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. EDT. This year it's near Chrisney in Spencer County. If you live in southern Indiana, it's coming your way! You won't want to miss it.

Four outstanding couples will be honored as Master Farmers plus an Honorary Master Farmer will be recognized as well. The program includes a panel interview after the actual ceremony. The idea is to let you learn more about the programs of these outstanding people.

Sign-up due soon if you want to attend the 2014 Indiana Master Farmer banquet.

Indiana Prairie Farmer and the Purdue University College of Agriculture are co-sponsors of the event. The special feature this year is that the meal will be catered by the world-famous Schnitzelbank Restaurant in Jasper.

Related: A Night With the Masters

The only catch is that you can't just decide to drop in at the last minute. For catering purposes, you need to order tickets early. Anyone can attend, with the cost being $25 each. To order tickets, call 765-494-8593 by June 6. Orders for the Master Farmer meal will not be accepted after that time. No tickets will be available during the tour or at the door.

Jim Mintert, director of the new Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue, will moderate the panel discussion with all awardees participating after the actual presentation of awards.

"Many people have wanted to know more about their operations and how they do it, and this gives them the chance to find out," explains Donya Lester, who will also be the emcee for the program.

Full stories on the winners will appear in the July issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer and will also be featured on the Web here after the vent.  Lester believes the Indiana Farm Management Tour is the perfect setting since the Master Farmers are usually excellent farmers, leaders and managers.