Hi Everyone!

Boone County Royalty!

I usually like to keep these posts “farm-focused” to keep you up to date on farm happenings.  This time I want to be a little selfish, sort of.  Maybe I’m bragging a little, sort of.  I hope though, that what you get out of this one is a little taste of how much our community means to us and how there is so much more to agriculture than just raising a crop or an animal.  I love the community of agriculture in Boone County!

Our County Fair was this past week.  Our family has been involved in 4-H for as long as I can remember and that week has always been a highlight of our summer.  To top it off this year, our oldest daughter Shelby was selected as “Miss Boone County”.  I know that I am biased, but I think the judges made an excellent choice.  Shelby has always said that fair week was her favorite week of the year, so being “the queen” of it was just such a special experience for her.  It all comes down to relationships, and our county fair is like one big family reunion.  We may not live far from some of our neighbors, but fair time is the one time of the year that we really get a chance to catch up.

There are so many special families that have influenced me over the years.  There are so many people that have no idea the impact they have made on young people of our community.

4-H brings out the best in people and teaches you how to deal with things that aren’t always easy.  Shelby was a 10-year member of 4-H last year, so this year she could just concentrate on being Miss Boone.  She will compete in January for the 2016 Miss Indiana State Fair.  Shelby will be returning to Indiana Wesleyan to start her sophomore year in “Strategic Communications” which is a new name for Public Relations.  I am also very proud of the rest of the females in the picture above including my wife!  Our girls show sheep, photography, cooking, sewing, and compete in Fashion Review.  Emma and Riley will both be competing at the State Fair modeling dresses that they sewed themselves.  Emma will be joining Shelby at Indiana Wesleyan this fall. Riley will be a high school sophomore and Faith will be a freshman.

Don and Jodie – Farm Bureau photo

Also at our county fair, we helped to man the County Farm Bureau booth.  This year’s theme was “Every Picnic Begins with a Farmer”, so they displayed pictures of all the County Board members on our farms.  the goal of the booth is to educate the non-farming public about agriculture and also to promote Farm Bureau membership to farmers that might not be members.  We believe in Farm Bureau and think that it is the best voice we have when it comes to legislation involving agriculture.  For example, our state farm bureau lobby was very influential this past year in curbing some property tax increases and working to slow down involuntary annexation of farmland.  Jodie and I have been involved in Farm Bureau since we were on the State “Young Farmer” Committee way back when we were, well, young.

I am currently sitting on a couch in my brother-in-laws house just outside of Vail, Colorado.  Our family is catching a breather for a few days between the county fair and state fair.  Dean and Dad are holding down the farm fort this week.  It sure makes me appreciate them.  School will be starting back before we know it.  Life keeps rolling along!  Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us!