It’s no accident that Indiana is considered a national leader in soil health and soil conservation. Much of this recognition is due to the behind-the-scenes leadership of Jane Hardisty, who has served Indiana for many years as the state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Indiana Farm Bureau awarded Hardisty with the President’s Award, presented to her by President Randy Kron at the IFB’s 2017 annual convention in French Lick. He noted that the award goes to a public servant who dedicates his or her career to the betterment of Indiana agriculture. Hardisty, now ready to retire and return to her farm near Greenfield, certainly meets that requirement.

Deidra Gottbrath wins Discussion Meet
Deidra Gottbrath of Washington County took first place in the prestigious Discussion Meet held annually at the Indiana Farm Bureau annual convention. Gottbrath farms with her parents and works full time as a stroke clinical operations nurse in Louisville, Ky. She is president of the Washington County Farm Bureau.

Also at the convention, Isabella Chism of Howard County was re-elected as second vice president of IFB.

Five county Farm Bureau organizations were recognized for outstanding service: Benton, Boone, Jennings, Wayne and Whitley.

Ag educator Greg Curlin recognized
Longtime ag teacher Greg Curlin, FFA advisor at Switzerland County High School, was recognized for outstanding service in Region 4 of the National Association of Ag Educators. He received the honor during the group’s annual convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Curlin has been active in the ag teacher’s organization in Indiana, and served as NAAE president in 2011.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE: Greg Curlin (second from right), one of Indiana’s outstanding vocational-agriculture teachers and FFA advisors, with Switzerland County FFA, received recognition recently from a national ag teacher’s group.

State fair’s Cindy Hoye honored
Cindy Hoye, an Indianapolis native and executive director of the Indiana State Fair Commission since 2004, was recently inducted into a hall of fame for her industry. She was inducted by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions during its recent meeting in Las Vegas. It’s the highest award presented by the organization.

Hoye and her husband, Bob, have two children and three grandchildren.   

RECEIVES AWARD: The Indiana State Fair’s Cindy Hoye was honored recently by a national group in her field.

Tom Griffiths joins USB
Tom Griffiths, Kendallville, was recently appointed to the United Soybean Board by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. He is now one of 73 directors overseeing investments of the nationwide soy checkoff. Griffiths is also an Indiana Soybean Alliance director and currently chairman of ISA’s board.

Griffiths replaces Mike Beard, Frankfort, on the United Soybean Board, who rotated off after serving three terms. Other Hoosiers serving on USB include Mark Seib, Poseyville; David Lowe, Dunkirk; and Kevin Wilson, Walton.

Heather Hill joins pork board
Heather Hill, Greenfield, was recently appointed to the National Pork Board by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. She is co-owner of Hill Farms, which produces 32,000 pigs annually in a farrow-to-finish operation.

Former president of the Indiana Pork Board, Hill and her family have been featured in the live chats with farmers during the Indiana State Fair. Visitors to the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Glass Barn during the fair can view live chats with Hill while she’s at home on the farm.