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Farm Wives Support Master Farmers!

This year's Master Farmer winners give praise to farming wives for support.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

June 14, 2012

2 Min Read

Show me a successful man and in most cases, and I will find a successful spouse somewhere behind the scenes, helping that person succeed. Farming is still a family affair in Indiana, and most Master Farmers rightfully credit their families, especially their wives, when they make introductions and comments at the Master Farmer banquet. Such was the case this year at Plymouth just a few nights ago.

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Jo Ann Carmichael, Sullivan, came into Ed's life late, but she is a strong partner who supports him today. During the busy seasons on the farm, she has meals ready for anybody who is working on the farm that day, or who just happens by. One day that was me, and I can attest that she does her job very well!

Denise Schroeder helps add income and serves the community at the same time by working off the farm as a full-time Extension educator in White County. She works with Greg Bossaer, who has served ably as the ag educator in that county for roughly three decades.

Gene Schmidt admits upfront he couldn't do what he does without his wife, Diane. Gene has been president of the National Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for about a year and a half now,. With the title comes a tremendous amount of travel, especially to Washington DC in an election year and Farm Bill year, representing the conservation interests across the country. While he's gone, Diane keeps the home fries burning. She can also jump on a tractor and plant seed corn or do whatever she needs to do to help them get the job done.

Kerry Ames' wife, Corliss, did her part to provide income by working as a registered nurse at the Putnam County Hospital until last fall. She retired in the fall of 2011.

Kim's wife, Gina, is a fourth grade teacher in the Greencastle school system. Her biggest task may be teaching her kids how to spell the name of the school: Tzouanakis Elementary School. Try running that one through spell-check on your computer.

Kent's wife, Karen, volunteers time to help with a local clothing pantry project for those in need. In fact, Kent and Karen maintain the pantry in their basement.

Congratulations to all the wives who stand behind their husbands and help make important contributions to the farm and to their families.

About the Author

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

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