Indiana FFA elects 2024-25 State Officers

During the 95th Indiana FFA State Convention, 12 FFA members from across the state participated in a rigorous interview and selection process. The following members were selected to serve Indiana FFA and its 13,000+ members as a 2024-25 Indiana FFA State Officer: President ? Ethan Wolheter, Prairie Heights FFA Secretary ? Christina Caldwell, Connersville FFA Northern Region Vice President ? Stephanie Berenda, South Newton FFA Southern Region Vice President ? Cale Williams, Terre Haute South FFA Treasurer ? Kyatalin Baker, Switzerland County FFA Reporter ? Sienna Alexander, Monrovia FFA Sentinel ? Garrett Bolin, Indian Creek FFA

Lt. Gov. Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announce 2024 Stellar Pathways finalists

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch?and the?Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (ORCRA) recently announced four regions as finalists for the 2024 Stellar Pathways program.

Relaunched earlier this year, the Stellar Pathways program is a multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiative led by OCRA. The program works with communities in a self-determined region on a shared vision for community and economic development. Additionally, Stellar Pathways promotes local and regional partnerships and assists in implementing sustainable solutions to challenges Indiana?s rural communities face.

The following regions have been chosen as finalists:?

• One Dearborn County: Stellar Pathways for Indiana Gateways, including, Dearborn County Economic Development Corporation, Dearborn County, Dillsboro and Greendale
• Connect LaGrange County, including, LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, LaGrange County, Town of LaGrange, Shipshewana and Topeka
• Wabash County, including, Wabash County, City of Wabash, North Manchester, Roann, LaFontaine and Lagro
• Warren County Region, including, Warren County and Williamsport

OCRA?s Stellar Pathways partner agencies include the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Destination Development Corporation and Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Indiana agricultural teacher named ?Ag Educator of the Year?

As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, the ag teachers who go above and beyond in educating America?s youth and future leaders are more important than ever. In Indiana, eight exceptional ag teachers were recently named as finalists of the 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award for their positive impact in the classroom and communities they serve. Of the finalists, Ron Noll, an agricultural teacher at Prairie Heights High School, was named Indiana?s 2023-2024 Ag Educator of the Year.

Nationwide, in partnership with the Indiana FFA and Farm Credit Mid-America, recognized Noll as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner during the Indiana FFA State Convention. In addition to the title of Indiana?s Ag Educator of the Year, Noll will receive the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and a $3,000 Nationwide-funded donation to further Prairie Heights? agricultural education efforts.

Nominations for the 2024 USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee Election are being accepted

The nomination period for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees is open now through Aug. 1. Each county office is looking for producers to serve on the local county committee.

County committees are unique to FSA and serve as a direct link between agricultural communities across the country and USDA. Producers who serve on committees work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.

Indiana company awarded Dairy Business Innovation Alliance grant

Tulip Tree Creamery of Indianapolis is one of the more than three dozen dairy businesses located across the upper and lower Midwest receiving Dairy Business Builder grants totaling $3.2 million in allocated funding. The grant program is administered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Dairy Business Builder grant program aims to encourage small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, entrepreneurs and processors in its 11-state service region to pursue innovative projects such as dairy farm diversification, on-farm processing, value-added product creation and efforts to market dairy products for export.

Summer school for exporters

ISDA partners with Food Export-Midwest to deliver export-related programs and services to Indiana companies seeking to start or expand their export sales.

Food Export-Midwest is hosting a series of free online webinars intended for new and existing food and ag exporters to better prepare for and succeed in international trade. Upcoming webinar topics include:

• June 26 - Food Export Documentation & Procedures
• July 10 - Become "Export Ready": Meeting Buyer Expectations
• July 24 - Online Resources for Export Market Research
• August 21 - How to Access Duties and Taxes
• September 4 - A Primer on the USMCA

For the full list of free, online webinars, click here.

June 20: Indiana Agricultural Teacher Named ?Ag Educator of the Year?
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June 20: Indiana FFA elects new State Officers
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June 12: Indiana?s Best vie for 2024-2025 FFA leadership positions
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Indiana Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP)
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Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
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Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
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Indiana FFA Assistant Director of Leadership Development | Indianapolis, IN
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Resource Specialist | Boonville, IN
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Resource Specialist | Connersville, IN
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