Each of the final six days of the Indiana State Fair will feature a different farm family. The Featured Farmer program is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. Susan Carney of Corteva says families were selected to showcase the diversity of Indiana agriculture.

The Indiana State Fair runs from July 29 to Aug. 21, except on Mondays and Tuesdays. Meet the other Featured Farmers in the first and second installments of this three-part series. Here is the last group:

Day 13
Aug. 14 — Haynes family
Superior Dairy LLC in DeKalb County moved into a new barn with 240 cows milked by robots in 2017. Tim and Mandy Haynes and Tim’s brother David and wife Deb Haynes are senior partners. Junior partners are Tim and Mandy’s son Tyler and his wife, Natalie, and David and Deb’s son Ryan and his wife, Lindsey. The primary reason for shifting to robots was so when senior partners transition out, the younger families can manage the herd with robotic milkers and information supplied by technology. If Tim’s name sounds familiar, he was the “milkman” for the 2022 Indianapolis 500.

Day 14
Aug. 17 — Carr family
Steve and Jane Carr and daughters Jo Ellen, Leigh and Morgan operate 3D Valley Farms in Harrison County. They’re featured for producing and marketing maple syrup, along with confectionery treats made from maple syrup. However, their farm operation is much broader, including beef, pork, chicken and lamb produced for local sale. All animals are born on the farm. “It feels good to provide all-natural, grass-fed beef, and it feels good to do it humanely,” Morgan says. Visit 3dvalleyfarm.com.

Day 15
Aug. 18 — Jones family
Mark and Peggy Jones represent Indiana’s timber industry. They were recognized as Indiana Tree Farmers of the Year in 2019. What makes this accomplishment special is that when they returned in 2006 to land near French Lick that had been in Peggy’s family since the 1800s, much work was needed. They created their timberland by following best practices. Controlling invasive plants is a challenge they continue addressing today. “The only real unique thing about our operation is that we came into it with little knowledge and no experience,” Peggy says. “We used the resources available to all Hoosier landowners through USDA, Indiana DNR and the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association.”

Day 16
Aug. 19 — Wischmeier family
Steve and Beth Wischmeier operate Bourbon Bound Farms in Jackson County. They describe themselves as diverse entrepreneurs, with interests in warehousing, a commercial grain facility, a farming operation and more, stretching from Indiana to Georgia. Both Beth and Steve grew up on family farms that were later dissolved. Their goal was rebuilding their family farms. Today, three children — Britney, Jack and Craig — are actively involved in different parts of the family business.

Day 17
Aug. 20 — Lawyer family
Tracy Lawyer and her husband, Jon, operate Lick Creek Flower Co. of Madison County. It’s a private, fresh-cut flower farm that grows flowers on 1 acre. Lawyer uses soil blocking, an old English method of germinating seed, to germinate flowers, which are transplanted by hand into the field. Her flowers range from tulips and peonies to summer and fall flowers, and she also makes Christmas wreaths. Lawyer sells flowers at her own stand and offers a weekly subscription service, plus supplying flowers for weddings and special events. Visit lickcreekflowerco.com.

Day 18
Aug. 21 — Scott family
Scott Farms, representing traditional Indiana crops, rounds out the Featured Farmer cast. Gary Scott’s great-great-great-grandfather John Scott settled near Logansport in 1827. John’s father was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. The farm today includes corn, soybeans, wheat, cover crops, beef cattle and hogs. Gary and wife Tery are joined in the operation by their sons and their wives, Kyle and Sera and Eric and Kathleen.