The Indiana Farm Bureau state convention in French Lick was both a 100-year birthday celebration and a send-off into the next 100 years. Randy Kron, Indiana Farm Bureau president, Evansville, urged members to celebrate accomplishments of the past 100 years, and then look forward to what challenges lie ahead.

One of those challenges is rising health-care costs for Hoosier farm families and IFB members. Kron assured members, even while celebrating at the awards banquet held at the West Baden Hotel, that it was a top priority going forward. He noted that IFB has been looking diligently for possible solutions over the past 12 months and is ready to introduce a plan moving forward.

The plan may require legislative changes in Indiana law. That’s why health care will be a priority for IFB during the upcoming legislative session, he said.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, who addressed the convention during the awards ceremony, emphasized that dealing with rising health-care costs is also a priority for his administration during the upcoming legislative short session. He told members that he would need their support while working toward solutions.

Holcomb left an event with Vice President Mike Pence in Indianapolis on Friday evening to make the short helicopter jaunt to West Baden to attend the IFB awards banquet. Before the banquet concluded, Holcomb and Kron greeted representatives from each of Indiana’s county Farm Bureau groups on stage as they brought forward items to be placed in a time capsule.

The time capsule serves to record the first 100 years of Indiana Farm Bureau and point toward the next 100 years. Officials say it will remain sealed until 2069. Items placed within the capsule varied from a special letter from the Shelby County Farm Bureau to a Farm Bureau wooden ruler offered by Rush County Farm Bureau.