The Indiana Beef Cattle Association presented the Robert C. Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 to Randy Cates, Modoc, Ind. Stan Armstrong of Spring Creek Cattle Co., Springville, Ind., captured the IBCA Outstanding Cattleman award. The Outstanding Young Cattleman award went to Chad Burcham of Blue River Beef in Salem, Ind. Mark Valentine and Valentine Feed and Supply, Redkey, Ind., was named Friend of the Beef Industry.

New IBCA officers for 2024 are Kelley Sheiss, Larwill, president; Keegan Poe, Franklin, president-elect; David Dixon, Rensselaer, vice president; Andrew Stewart, Greensburg, treasurer; and Jeff Sherfield, Spencer, vice president.

Explore soil health management at workshop

How serious are you about soil health? Members of the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District hope you are ready to invest a day learning about it from nationwide experts. Soil-Con is a one-day working meeting to be held March 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST at the Oakwood Event Center in Syracuse, Ind. It’s a free event, but registration is required.

Learn how to reverse past soil degradation during a discussion led by David Montgomery and Anne Bikle, husband and wife and co-authors of “The Hidden Half of Nature.” Then, listen as the founder of the Soil Food Web School, Elaine Ingham, explains how to restore ecological functions of soil by rebuilding the soil biome. Plus, Christian Krupke, Purdue Extension entomologist, will talk about costs vs. benefits with corn and soybean neonicotinoid seed treatments.

Register for the event at kosciuskoswcd.org or call 574-267-7445, ext.n 3.

Grassroots conservation

The Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District is expanding its annual March workshop into a three-day event titled Pay Dirt 2024, to be held March 5-7 at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Ind.

Speakers include Jennifer Tank, a Notre Dame professor who specializes in exploring two-stage ditches for agriculture; Jason Mauck, an Indiana farmer who uses cover crops; Julia Wickard, Farm Service Agency executive director for Indiana; and Gene Schmidt, former president of the National Association of Conservation Districts and current president of the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board. Greg Peterson, better known as Machinery Pete for his commentaries on used farm equipment, will speak March 5.

For cost information and to register, visit elkcoswcd.org or call 574-523-2030.

Hoosier on national sheep board

Larry Hopkins, Westfield, Ind., was recently elected to the executive board of the American Sheep Industry Association, better known as ASI. Hopkins runs a purebred sheep and wool operation known as Little Eagle Creek Valley Farm between Zionsville and Westfield. Active in the Indiana Sheep Association, he has also served as a breed manager during the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

Hopkins represents Region 3 on the board, which consists of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. ASI is headquartered in Englewood, Colo.

SHEEP LEADER: Larry Hopkins, Westfield, Ind., is now a director on the ASI national board in the sheep industry. (Indiana Sheep Association)

Cow-calf seminar

Learn how to improve production in your beef cow herd through a one-day seminar slated for Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST at the Cornerstone Hall in Salem, Ind. Nick Minton, a Purdue beef specialist, is coordinating the meeting. Learn about embryo transfer application in modern beef herds and genomics for the commercial cow herd.

Minton will lead a session called “Raising Cattle or Raising Headaches,” followed by a session with Jason Tower and Lane Edwards discussing how to manage for fewer hay days with your herd.

Cost is $40 per person if you register by Feb. 16, and $50 afterward. Send registration to Purdue Extension-Lawrence County, 924 16th St., Bedford, IN 47421, with checks payable to Purdue CES Education Fund-Lawrence County. Email Minton at [email protected] or call 812-279-4330.