The Breakdown with INFB

This week we kicked off an eventful season in the Indiana Farm Bureau world with the continuation of the 2026 Indiana General Assembly. Engaging in policy is a foundation of Farm Bureau membership, and there is no shortage of issues on the docket this year that could impact agriculture.

For this episode, we brought two of our policy experts and INFB leaders to the podcast to give us a rundown of what to expect in the coming months and how members can get involved. Randy Kron is the president of Indiana Farm Bureau who also farms in southern Indiana, and Katie Nelson is the executive director of public policy for INFB.

This interview provides a sneak peak into of some of the topics that will be discussed at the Indiana Ag Gathering, formerly known as State Convention, to be held Dec. 12-13, 2025, at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana.

Damon West, best-selling author, philanthropist and college professor, talks about his personal story of overcoming extreme adversity. West shows that no matter what the obstacles are in your life, you, too, can overcome them by choosing to be like the coffee bean and change your pot of boiling water into a pot of coffee.

Visit https://infb.org/events for more information.

A conversation with Ben Wicker and Hans Schmitz from the Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance (IANA). They talk about what their organization does and how Farm Bureau members can use their assistance to fine-tune nutrient management practices, maximizing productivity while protecting Indiana’s resources.

Visit keepitmidwest.com for more information.

A discussion with representatives from Indiana's three Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters: Jayden Simpson from Purdue University, Tara de Jong from Huntington University, and Emma Buening from Vincennes University.

These three students talk about issues they care about in agriculture, where they see the industry going and how to get involved at the college level.

Visit the INFB website for more information.

The Indiana State Fair is over, but Indiana Farm Bureau is celebrating a successful showing at the annual weeks-long event and quality time spent with the youth involved in agriculture. Annie Romine, INFB's youth engagement coordinator, shares more about her work with youth and collegiate level Farm Bureau activities and how more young people can get involved in agriculture.

Want to learn more? Visit infb.org or contact Annie at [email protected].

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 policy can be crafted in a better way for ag.

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.