INFB hosts young farmer, ag professional conference

INDIANAPOLIS — The annual Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ag Professionals Conference took place Feb. 21-23 in Indianapolis.

The conference theme was “Innovate and Grow.” Attendees aged 40 and under learned ways to grow in their personal and professional lives.

Conference Highlights

• Temple Grandin, author and professor of animal science at Colorado State University, gave a keynote speech.

• Motivational speaker Braxten Nielsen shared how he overcame setbacks and challenges related to a rodeo accident that almost left him permanently paralyzed.

• Breakout sessions about water rights, cattle risk management, biosecurity, AI and farming, mental health and more were held.

• Attendees participated in industry tours including Tulip Tree Creamery, Smoking Goose Meatery, Beck’s Hybrids, Fisher’s AgriPark and West Fork Whiskey.

• Some participants made blankets to donate to Riley Children’s Hospital.

• Farm Bureaus in Kosciusko and Dubois counties were the winners of Awakening Awards, which recognized county YF&AP programs that were new or had not applied for the contest in the last three years.

• Kosciusko County Farm Bureau was recognized for donating over $3,000 to Feeding America in 2024.

New Leaders

In addition, a new state YF&AP chair, vice chair and secretary took office at the conference.

Molley Hasenour of Dubois County will serve as chair for 2025, Katie Pennington of Hendricks County will serve as vice chair, and Payton Sinders of Clay County will serve as secretary.

The committee also welcomed the following district YF&AP leaders to serve two-year terms:

• District 4 — Vince and Amie Osborn, Miami County.

• District 6 — Kylie Wheeler, Henry County.

• District 10 — Cameron Yundt, Scott County.

For more information on the program, visit www.infb.org/YFAP.