An interview with Mark Sigler, INFB chief operating officer and treasurer, who is retiring Sept. 1 after 38 years with Farm Bureau. Sigler started at INFB in 1987 as marketing assistant in the commodity department and in the years since has held a number of positions within the organization. He talks about the changes that have happened in the industry since he began and what he hopes his legacy will be.
Delaware County Farm Bureau board member Katie Nixon talks about her county’s experiences with HEA1012. The bill was passed during the 2025 Indiana General Assembly and was a direct result of Delaware County Farm Bureau’s policy development process. It requires law enforcement agencies to inform property owners of damage to property in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Nixon discusses the importance of advocacy and encourages other county Farm Bureaus to speak up if something can be done or...
June is National Safety Month and summer is a busy season for farmers using large machinery, so rural road safety becomes an increasingly important topic. We sat down with John Nagle, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance farm training specialist, who talks about road safety, particularly as it relates to safety at intersections and the vital importance of both seeing other drivers and being seen. Click here for more information on safety from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance....
A conversation with Hancock County Farm Bureau member and retired Army Col. Joe Ricker who was recently named the very first recipient of the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence from American Farm Bureau Federation. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, so Ricker shares some of the impactful activities he’s taken on to make a difference for those who struggle with mental health.
A conversation with Tracey Wiedmeyer, Indiana Farm Bureau member from Marion County and the co-founder and CEO of Gripp , the winner of the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation Ag Innovation Challenge competition. Gripp, which offers farmers an operator-centric way to keep records of assets in combination with communication tools to keep everyone connected, received a total of $100,000 for winning the challenge, courtesy of AFBF in partnership with Farm Credit....
A conversation on unique ways to grow food with Joe McGuire. Joe is a St. Joseph County Farm Bureau member and CEO of Pure Green Farms in South Bend, Indiana, where they grown hydroponic lettuce.
A conversation with Braxten Nielsen, keynote speaker for the upcoming Young Farmers & Ag Professionals Conference in Indianapolis (Feb. 21-23, 2025). Braxten talks about overcoming setbacks and challenges related to a rodeo accident that almost left him paralyzed.
Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron and Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy, discuss INFB’s 2025 legislative priorities. The organization’s top issues for the 2025 General Assembly are taxation and water rights. More information is available at www.infb.org/statepriorities . In addition to the priorities themselves, Kron and Tauer also talk about how members can get involved.
Here's a sneak peek at two of the keynote speakers at the upcoming Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention! Jack Uldrich, global futurist and author, speaks to the future of the ag industry, and Nina Teicholz, science journalist and Ph.D. in nutrition, discusses a cornerstone of her work - studies on saturated fats and fats in general as part of our diets.
An interview with Indiana’s top doctor. Among her many roles, Dr. Lindsay Weaver is the Indiana state health commissioner, adjunct assistant professor of emergency medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and an emergency medicine physician with IU Health. INFB talks to Dr. Weaver about the state of rural health, access to quality care and what solutions there are to improving public health in the state.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 19% of U.S. farmers and 9% of U.S. farmworkers had a disability at some point between 2008 and 2016. INFB had a conversation with Paul Jones, an education and resource specialist working on the AgrAbility project at Purdue University, to learn more about the resources available to help farmers with disabilities.
Interviews with two of Indiana's agritourism destination owners, Linda Baird with Cornucopia Farm in Scottsburg, and from the northern part of the state, Maureen Kercher and Mollie Kieffer from Kercher's Sunrise Orchards in Elkhart County. The conversation focuses on what it takes to run a successful agritourism operation, the ins and outs of specialty crop growing and why these businesses are so valuable to Indiana’s agricultural makeup.
A conversation with John Shoup, director of the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation, and Clint Fischer, an attorney at Ribstein and Hogan Law Firm, a firm based in South Dakota that specializes in helping family farms navigate the often-daunting process of farm succession planning. As farmers continue to age, proper succession planning is crucial to help protect the farm and ensure a smooth transition to the next generation. This episode covers the basics that families need to consider in their ...
A conversation with U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, who represents the second congressional district in northern Indiana, to help Indiana farmers and listeners better understand agricultural issues from the federal level. He touches on everything from the farm bill, trade, labor, inflation and handling relationships in Washington, D.C.
One of Indiana Farm Bureau's priority issues is bolstering rural viability throughout the state. Among the many ways to keep rural communities thriving is to support the need for quality child care. This episode features interviews with Adam Alson, Jasper County farmer and president of Appleseed Childhood Education, and Carlos Vasquez, vice president and COO of Franciscan Health Rensselaer, who talk about their successful partnership in filling that child care gap in northwest Indiana....
A conversation about conservation with Jerry Raynor, director of financial assistance programs at the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and former Indiana State Conservationist.
Interview with Ted McKinney, chief executive officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). McKinney grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Tipton, Indiana, and is the former under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the former director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. In this episode, he discusses his passion for agriculture, importance of trade and good policy, and advice for those wa...
Interviews with Lee Humberg, Indiana state director of wildlife services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture , and John Hardin, cattle producer and INFB member from Scott County. We revisit the increase of black vultures in Indiana in recent years and how livestock producers have been impacted.
Recorded in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation National Convention. Interviews with two start-up companies headquartered in Indiana: Anu , whose mission is “Empowering people to grow their own fresh, locally grown produce right at home”, and ReproHealth Technologies , which describes itself as bringing the “IVF lab to the farm.” Both companies were among the top 10 teams in the 2024 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge , and ReproHealth Technologies reached the fina...
Conversation with Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse. President Smallhouse provides insight on the water quantity issues they’ve dealt with in Arizona and offers advice for Indiana farmers to be proactive in water conversations happening in the state.
In an industry that is so ripe with technology advancement and opportunity, some farmers still find it challenging to change the way they operate. As a preview to the upcoming Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention on Dec. 14 – 16, 2023, in Fort Wayne, we interview speakers Aidan Connolly and Willie Vogt about their predictions and recommendations for adapting to new technology in agriculture.
Interviews with two Indiana Christmas tree farmers. The owner of Dull's Tree Farm in Boone County and the owners of Z&C Farms in Miami County talk about their experience growing Christmas trees, creating a fun agritourism destination and tips for caring for your tree this holiday season. Dull's Tree Farm: https://dullstreefarm.com Z&C Farms: https://www.facebook.com/ZandCFarms
Interview with Marguerite Bolt , Purdue University hemp specialist. We dig into the state of hemp production in Indiana since it became legal and all the unique uses for the newer crop. Where is the trend of hemp production going in the next few years and what are the obstacles for growth?
Interview with Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus. Mitch talks about the ag bioscience economy, the future of production agriculture in Indiana and how innovation and research are growing in the ag industry.
Interviews with Anna Whelchel, Indiana State Fair chief marketing and sales officer, and with Isabella Chism, INFB 2nd vice president. Anna highlights the rich history of the Indiana State Fair and all the main attractions Hoosiers can experience when they attend this year. Isabella shares more about the INFB Women's Leadership Committee and their 30th annual event at the fair, Taste From Indiana Farms.
Interviews with leaders from Indianapolis City Market (Keisha Harrison and Mandy Wright-Jarrett) and the Indiana Farmers Market Community of Practice (Christina Ferroli). Find out more about the history of the Original Farmers Market in downtown Indianapolis, some of the challenges that market managers face, and opportunities for producers and communities to create and maintain quality farmers markets around the state.
Interview with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb. Director Lamb was appointed as the new leader of the ISDA by Governor Eric Holcomb on March 1, 2023. He talks through what he's learned so far on the job and what his aspirations are for agriculture in Indiana.
Celebrate the month of May and the Indy 500 with us as we interview Brooke Williams, director of communications at American Dairy Association Indiana, Kerry Estes, the 2023 Veteran Milk Man, and Alex Neuenschwander, the 2023 Rookie Milk Man. Learn about the historic winner's drink of milk at the race and what it does for the dairy industry on a national stage.
Interview with Sarah Beth Aubrey, the founder and CEO of IN-CLIMATE. Sarah Beth explains the mission of IN-CLIMATE and how they're engaging others in the ag space to have bigger conversations about climate solutions.
Interview with Shannon Anderson, educator and author of the 2023 Indiana Farm Bureau Book of the Year, I LOVE Strawberries! She shares about how her love of growing her own food and teaching first grade led her to begin writing children's books. Shannon also recounts how some of her unique classroom activities got noticed by "Good Morning America" and the "TODAY Show".
