Our good friends at Indiana AgriNews featured a story about Meghan Grebner‘s new role with Indiana Brownfield.
We are really fortunate to have such a great weekly ag publication available in the Hoosier State. Actually, I know a lot of folks outside of Indiana that enjoy receiving this publication.
Brownfield’s newest farm broadcaster, Meghan Grebner, spent much of the past month with Dave Russell. As Dave heads east to head up Ohio Brownfield, Meghan is taking over the reins in Indiana. Dave has a lot of good friends in Indiana. During this past month, those friends made sure Dave knew how much they appreciate all he has done over the years to tell the stories of Hoosier agriculture.
Meghan summed it up:
Spending the last few weeks with Dave meeting the folks in Indiana Agriculture has been a blessing. Dave has been a great friend, colleague and mentor and it’s so neat to see how much everyone in this state appreciates all he has done over the past 30 years. The lunch and “roast” with the folks from the Indiana Farm Bureau building yesterday was a great way to end our visits. It was filled with stories, laughter, great conversation and wonderful fellowship and it highlighted just how much Dave means to the folks in Indiana.
I look forward to continuing working with Dave as he heads back to Ohio and again – can’t say how thankful I have been for his guidance.
-Meghan Grebner
As Meghan said, during a lunch hosted by Indiana Farm Bureau Monday, they “roasted” Dave. And what would a roast be without showing everyone in the room the picture of Dave emceeing an event sans pants?
The Steinmetz family from Spencer County Indiana visited Brownfield Ag News today. Our own Stan Koenigsfeld gave his future daughter-in-law and her family a tour of our studios.
They are listeners of Brownfield Ag News radio network and Paul, an ag teacher, subscribes to Brownfield’s Agriculture Today e-newsletter.
Dave Russell received an award of recognition from the Indiana FSA office Wednesday. Julia Wickard, State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Indiana presented the award.
For many years, Dave has covered Indiana agriculture. The past few years, he’s been doing so for Brownfield Ag News. 
As Brownfield grows geographically, expanding into the Buckeye state where he was born and raised, Dave made the decision to move to Ohio and head up Brownfield’s efforts there. Meghan Grebner is taking the reins in Indiana.
Dave Russell’s daughter Megan is getting married this summer. After all the buzz and media coverage of the royal wedding festivities last week, the two decided they should practice.
As you can see from this picture, Dave is REALLY getting into it!
Brownfield’s Dave Russell was honored with Beck’s Hybrids Beyond the Fence award on Friday. We are so very proud of him! Here’s the news release:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (January 28, 2011) — Indiana corn and soybean farmers have recognized five deserving Hoosiers for their outstanding support and promotion of Indiana agriculture with Beck’s Hybrids Beyond the Fence awards.
The awards, which are sponsored by Beck’s Hybrids of Atlanta, Ind., in conjunction with the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA), were presented at the Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum on January 28 in Indianapolis.
“It is with great privilege that we are able to honor such an exceptional group of individuals who are dedicated to telling the story of Indiana agriculture,” said Scott Beck, vice president of Beck’s Hybrids. “The winners were selected from a pool of well-deserving nominations, which is a testament to the state of Indiana and the people who support the future of agriculture.”
The five award recipients honored for their outstanding contributions to Indiana agriculture are:
• Beth Archer of Danville, Ind., received the Friend of Indiana Agriculture award for outstanding contributions to agriculture by a non-farmer. Archer is the executive director for AgrIInstitute, Inc. and is responsible for the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program, which develops and strengthens knowledge and leadership capacity of its participants.
• Joyce Peden of Bloomington, Ind., received the Farmer Neighbor and Urban Relations award for a farmer who has made outstanding contributions toward improving neighbor relations. Peden and her husband operate a children’s farm festival on their family’s farm to give children an opportunity to visit a working farm and learn more about how agriculture impacts their lives each and every day.
• Jim Moseley of Clarks Hill, Ind., calls his primary occupation that of a farmer despite serving in numerous capacities within the United States Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, Purdue University and other public and semi-public organizations. Moseley received the Community Betterment award, which recognizes a farmer for outstanding contributions to the community through philanthropic, service, volunteerism, donations and/or leadership projects. Recently, Moseley hosted a group of National Guardsmen on his farm prior to their deployment to Afghanistan to help rebuild the country’s agriculture industry.
• Dave Russell of Indianapolis, Ind., received the Ag Media award for excellence in reporting about Indiana agriculture. Russell is the Indiana farm director for the Brownfield Ag Network and travels across the state covering agriculture for farmers and consumers alike with enthusiasm and passion.
• Robert Taylor of West Lafayette, Ind., is a professor emeritus of agricultural economics at Purdue University and has been recognized with every teaching honor awarded by Purdue University, as well as the agricultural economics profession. Taylor received the Ag Education Outreach award for his outstanding contribution to Indiana agricultural education since joining the Purdue faculty in 1962.
“Without the contributions of individuals like this year’s Beyond the Fence award recipients, it would be impossible for Indiana agriculture to maintain its vitality and success,” said Gary Lamie, ICGA president and Tippecanoe County farmer. “It’s exciting for us to be able to honor these individuals, who work both on and off the farm, for stepping up to the plate and sharing Indiana agriculture’s success story.”
Mike Beard, chairman of ISA membership and policy committee agrees.
“In today’s world, more and more consumers are removed from the farm and don’t understand our industry,” Beard said. “Beck’s understands that, and we are excited to partner with them in recognizing those individuals who go above and beyond in spreading the good news about Indiana agriculture.”
The five individuals were recognized on stage at the Indiana Livestock, Forage and Grain Forum and received a commemorative award provided by Beck’s Hybrids.
Pictured from left are Gary Lamie, ICGA president; Lynn Teel, ISA president; Dave Russell, recipient of Ag Media award; Scott Beck, Beck’s Hybrids and Ryan Parkin, Beck’s Hybrids.
As I drove through Hoosier National Forest last week, I lost count of the number of trucks I saw on the winding roads on my way to Spring Mill State Park Inn where I spoke to the Lawrence County Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting and spent the night.
Indiana’s timber industry, according to Indiana DNR, represents a significant piece of the state’s economy. With 4.7 million acres of forestland (just over 20% of IN land base) and 4.6 million acres of timberland, the Indiana forest products industry employs more than 
50,000 people. Forest products manufacturing is a $3 billion a year industry in Indiana. Using regional economic modeling, that figure grows to $17 billion. Forest-based manufacturing provided $3.77 billion in value-added, $8 billion in value of shipments to Indiana’s economy, and a payroll of $1.4 billion in 2006. Indiana ranks 9th nationally in total lumber production and third in hardwood lumber production. Indiana forest products industry is the 6th largest industry in Indiana.
Alan Kemper, the newly elected President of the American Soybean Association visited Brownfield Ag News headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri today. Tom Steever interviewed the former National Corn Growers Association President from Lafayette, Indiana.
With soybeans down to 8 percent moisture, Tippecanoe County Indiana farmer Josh Cox told me on Tuesday they were going to stop harvesting beans and wait for a rain to add some moisture back in. We certainly didn’t hear that last year.
The rapid harvest, fall tillage and wheat planting all happening at once have challenged fuel suppliers, basically since the end of August. Jon Lantz, VP of Marketing for CountryMark tells me a lot of hard work, and long hours by member co-ops has helped meet the demand. Hats off to all those responsible for delivering fuel to farmers.
Kristy Meyer with the National FFA tells me that as of October 12, online registrations for the 83rd National FFA Convention next week in Indianapolis totaled 48,000, that’s up from last year just a skosh.
And finally, are these corn stalks to match flip flops or are they flip flops to match corn stalks? Is there a purse to match?
That’s what I’m hearing.
-Dave Russell
Indiana Farm Bureau is asking farmers to tell their stories and possibly win a pretty great prize. Here’s the scoop:
Your Life, Your Story” Plans have been laid for the Indiana Farm Bureau state convention, scheduled for Dec. 9-11 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. This year’s theme is “Your Life, Your Story.” The theme builds on public relations efforts that encourage farmers to share their stories – about agriculture, their lives and their communities – with others.
“People in rural communities live a life that is interesting and desirable to our urban neighbors,” said Chris Fenner, convention committee chair and IFB leadership development coordinator. “We want members to take advantage of opportunities to share their experiences and build relationships with people.”
While the state convention will give members the opportunity to hone their storytelling skills, the IFB public relations team is working on ways to get those stories out to a broad public audience. What better way, asks IFB public relations director Andy Dietrick, than through an online contest?
“We’re working on the submission and voting timelines and all the technical details that go on this website,” said Dietrick. The convention team is looking at three contest categories – short essay, photo, and video. Submissions in all categories will be accepted throughout the summer and online voting for the best story in each category will take place in the month leading up to the state convention in December.
Prize and rule information will be posted on this site. So, dust off that pen and paper, and those cameras and check this site often for more convention and contest information.
What’s holding you back? If you are an Indiana farmer, I say “go for it!”