Brownfield's Erin Anderson visited with Indiana Farm Bureau senior director of policy strategy and advocacy Katrina Hall at the 2024 Indiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in French Lick, Indiana.

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Emma Wiebold was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court and field. What she loves most about high school sports are the friendships she has made with athletes from different schools and working hard to reach her personal goals each week in between meets or games. Emma is involved in volleyball and track. She is a member of the Boone A&M FFA Chapter, serving as their senior vice president for the second year in a row. She is also a member of the National Honors Society, doing community service hours through her school. Emma is currently coaching a 6th grade AAU volleyball team as well as volunteers as a ref for the Trinity volleyball tournament. She volunteers with the Special Olympics and Shop with A Cop. She has helped assist with the Open Swine show at the Boone County Fair and aided in organizing a showing and fitting clinic for dairy goats. She was also the 2023 Iowa Dairy Goat Association's Youth Ambassador. Emma raises and shows dairy goats at shows across the Midwest. Agriculture, to her, means hard work, life lessons, time management, and opportunities. Agriculture also means community; whether it's with her neighbors, hometown, or traveling across the Midwest for livestock shows, there is always a strong sense of community. Emma plans on attending Buena Vista University in Storm Lake Iowa, to major in biology. She will be continuing her track and field career at Buena Vista.

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Mackenzie Cupples was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court. What she loves most about high school sports is that they are a great way to connect with people in her community. Whether it’s new friends or the people in the stands, it’s great to make someone’s day, work with them, or give them a show to watch. Mackenzie is involved with her school's FFA chapter, cheerleading, and tennis. In her community, she has done many service activities. She has helped with a food pantry box at church, ringed bells for the Salvation Army, and volunteered at her local church, toy drives, pet supply drives, and Meals from the Heartland. Agriculture is a huge part of Mackenzie's life and makes her who she is. It is a livelihood and something a person devotes their whole life to. Agriculture isn’t just where she gets her food from, it’s hard work, dedication, and commitment. Mackenzie plans to complete high school and continue to Des Moines Area Community College to begin her animal science and veterinary med studies. Then, after 2 years, she wants to possibly transfer to ISU to further her studies. Along with school, she would like to continue to work on her family farm and grow her business of breeding beef cattle and sweet corn. After college, she hopes to live near Newton, her hometown, and live on her farm while continuing to grow agriculture. 

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Trayton Cink was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the field and court. The thing he loves most about high school sports is the life lessons the sports have taught him, such as hard work, staying disciplined, and teamwork. He also enjoys the friendships and memories he has made and will make throughout the rest of his athletic career. Trayton is involved in football, basketball, track and field, Quizbowl, and the Bishop Garrigan Honor Society. Outside of school and sports, he is active in his local church and helps with meal packaging. Agriculture to Trayton is a passion for working hard and providing for others. It isn’t just a job, agriculture means being able to do what he loves every day. After graduating high school, Trayton plans to attend North Iowa Area Community College for ag marketing and work on his family farm as the sixth generation farmer

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Colin Meester was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for his commitment and passion on and off the field and court. What he enjoys most about high school sports is being a part of a team with his friends. They have built a strong bond after playing sports together since elementary school and truly are like family to each other. He also enjoys being a leader for the younger kids. He expressed his appreciation for the opportunities he has been given due to playing sports and he looks forward to building on the future. Colin competes in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. He is involved in student council, FFA, FCA, 4th Grade teacher mentor, and Dollars for Scholars Volunteer. Outside of school and sports, Colin attends a local church that offers a youth program that includes Sunday School. He has helped with various activities at church such as the youth Christmas program. He also attends FCA at his school and helps officiate youth basketball games. Agriculture to Colin is a way to carry on a family tradition. It is a way of life that allows him to work alongside his family. He has seen firsthand the long hours his father puts in and has seen the joy his father has while working in the fields. Colin believes farming builds a great work ethic that he can carry into all aspects of his life. After graduating high school, Colin plans to attend college at Iowa State for agri-business or the University of Northern Iowa for business /teaching. 

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Ali Evans was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the court. What she loves most about high school sports is being a part of a team, and accepting challenges or roles that will benefit her team. She enjoys finding ways to grow as a player and as a person through the lessons she has learned on the many teams she has played on. She loves the hometown pride and community support that a team gets when they represent a small rural school. Ali competes in volleyball for her high school team and she is involved in FFA competing on her livestock and soil judging teams. She is also active in her BPA (Business Professionals of America) club as well. Ali is a member of the Junior Department Club (JDC) which is a community service-based club for high school girls. She is also active in 4-H in beef cattle and swine as well as Jr. Leaders clubs. Agriculture is the center of Ali's life. She lives on a corn and soybean farm in west central Indiana. Ali has spent her life growing up and enjoying the involvement in her family's farm where she gets to work alongside most of her family. She has developed a respect for agriculture that many people don't understand. Ali plans to attend Purdue University and major in agri-business then come back home to her family’s farm. After college, she would love to own and operate her own cattle herd.

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Shelby Luper was nominated as a Beck’s Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the mat and course. What she loves most about high school sports is creating bonds at tournaments. All of her friends have been young ladies that she has competed against. When they see each other at tournaments, they all make an effort to support, chat, and encourage one another. Shelby competes in wrestling, golf, and softball as well as participates in FFA, FCA, Coach Kids, Key Club, Friends for Life, and Friends of Rachel Club. Through Key Club, she has served in her community more than she did in the past. She has been able to donate clothes to families in need, along with cleaning up her local park. Agriculture to Shelby is a living breathing community of dedicated people. All people in agriculture have similar goals, foundations, and values. It is a place where she can make connections and ask questions; she always has a place there. After high school, Shelby plans to attend Manchester University to continue her wrestling career along with her studies. She plans to study psychology and religious culture to become a mental health therapist. 

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Missouri Soybean CEO Gary Wheeler discusses the organization's farmer-driven strategic planning process for the next three years. They are going back to the basics and staying focused on the organization's core mission to best serve Missouri soybean producers.

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In this episode, Missouri Soybean CEO Gary Wheeler discusses the organization's farmer-driven strategic planning process for the next 3 years. He outlines the key priorities of demand growth, proactive education, and innovative research that were shaped directly by the soybean farmer board. Wheeler emphasizes the importance of partnerships and staying focused on the organization's core mission to best serve Missouri soybean producers.

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Brownfield Commodity Market Reporter John Perkins has your look at the higher moves in soybeans, corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs.

What to watch:

» Soybeans and corn are focused on demand.

» Wheat is seeing technical support.

» Cattle could see more higher direct trade this week.

» Hogs are supported by Friday's higher close in pork.

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