2009 Indiana Master Farmers includes Chris Mann

2009 Indiana Master Farmers Honored at Purdue 07/30/2009Andy Eubank
The level of experience of the newest crop of Indiana Master Farmers, introduced at Beck’s Ag Center at Purdue yesterday, ranges from fifteen years to nearly fifty years. They can all agree that changes during their time in farming include technology, like computers and the size and capability of equipment.Master Farmer Maurice Robeson is from Carroll County, and told HAT, “Satellite auto-steer has made things much easier. You’re not near as tired at night. You can put people on not quite as experienced, but the younger aged know computers real well, so it’s easier for them to learn to drive tractors.”HAT heard of a range of thoughts about what the master farmers of the next generation will need to succeed. R.D Wolheter from northeast Indiana points to people management skills. “The Master Farmers in the future are going to be more like a CEO. Because of the size of operations they have to know how to manage the people, motivate the people, and get the excellent quality of work out of people. We use part time help. My son and I have no fulltime labor, but we have some very dedicated people willing to work and only go on three or fours sleep when it’s busy. In the future, that may not be the case. You may have to have set crews that only work a certain number of hours.”
Chris Mann from Putnam County puts producer education at the top of his list. He says, “You have to have education to be able to market your grain, manage your finances, and then all the agronomic changes that are occurring. It’s just tremendously important to have a good, strong education. For a young person, I couldn’t recommend anything more important than to focus on their education. Once you get that knowledge foundation you can somewhat learn on your own, but education I think is by far the most important, and the ability to work hard. Nothing comes easy in life, and you just have to get up and strap your work boots on everyday, and just go at.”Mann added, “There will be days that things aren’t going to go your way, but if you keep at it long enough, the victories will outweigh the losses and you’ll gain success in life.”Also honored Thursday were Rodney Hager of Orleans and Honorary Master Farmer Bruce McKenzie, who retired from Purdue in 1993. In the coming weeks HAT will feature the four 2009 Master Farmer winners.Indiana Prairie Farmer, Purdue Extension, and the Purdue College of Agriculture present the annual event.Pictured left to right is the 2009 Master Farmer Class: McKenzie, Wolheter, Robeson, Hager, and Mann.