State Ag Director calls for unity at SWCD Annual Meeting

Amidst the rolling hills of Owen County—a landscape that guest speaker Don Lamb joked can make a "Boone County flatlander" like himself a little queasy—local farmers and conservationists gathered Feb. 26 at the Owen County Fairgrounds for the Owen County Soil & Water Conservation District's Annual Meeting Dinner & Expo.

Lamb, the Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), was introduced by SWCD Executive Director Tammy Bingham and delivered a keynote address that was part personal heritage and part strategic vision.

A second-generation grain farmer from Lebanon, Lamb used the platform to "recruit" the audience into what he calls "Team Ag Indiana."

"We all need to be on the side of agriculture. We're a small group," Lamb told the crowd. "What can you do that can help out agriculture? Because we need everybody."

Lamb opened his remarks by reflecting on his roots, sharing photos of his father, a military veteran and first-generation farmer who started his operation by securing land via newspaper clippings mailed to him while he was stationed in Italy. He also displayed photos of himself as a child with his first toy tractors—items he still keeps today.

"If you grew up in agriculture, you know there's just something special; it gets in your blood from a young age," Lamb said, noting that at 59, he represents the average age of a Hoosier farmer—a statistic he hopes to change by encouraging more young people to enter the industry.

Despite being only the 38th largest state by land mass, Lamb highlighted that Indiana punches well above its weight class in global production. The state currently ranks first in popcorn and duck production, is among the top five in pork, corn, soybeans, eggs and poultry, and currently ranks as the seventh largest agricultural exporter in the nation.

Lamb specifically praised Owen County's unique contribution to these statistics, noting the county's strength in forest land and the hardwood industry.

"Owen County has a lot of patient farmers," Lamb remarked, referring to the long-term stewardship required for timber, which contributes to a $10.5 billion industry statewide.

Lamb also addressed recent shifts in federal and state health policies, specifically the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement. While initially nervous about how new federal and state leadership might view traditional agriculture, Lamb noted that the focus on "real food" has been a positive conversation starter.

Under Governor Mike Braun, Lamb is currently working on an executive order to identify barriers to local food production.

"I look at it as economic development," Lamb said. "Anytime you turn dollars over in a local community like this, those dollars turn over several times."

However, he cautioned against creating a divide between "small" and "big" agriculture.

"As soon as we start dividing... saying that's good for the small guy, not the big guy, or vice versa—it's all agriculture," he said. "We ought to be cheering every part of that food chain."

The meeting also touched on the pressing issue of "lost" farmland. Lamb reported that Indiana lost 350,000 acres of farmland between 2010 and 2022 to residential and industrial development. While efficiency has allowed farmers to produce more food on less land, he emphasized that the state is now conducting studies every five years to monitor the trend.

Lamb concluded by urging Owen County leaders to integrate agriculture into their regional economic development plans.

"Economic development shouldn't be a four-letter word to us in agriculture," he said, encouraging the community to find ways to add value to local products, such as turning raw hardwoods into finished barrels (not just staves) right here in Owen County.

The annual meeting also served as an opportunity for the SWCD to report on its conservation efforts. District officials discussed ongoing partnerships between local, state and federal agencies to protect water quality and soil health, emphasizing that conservation is essential to the county's overall quality of life.

Corbin Abrell, SWCD Board of Supervisors & Elections Chair, conducted the night's election of two new officers, with Owen County Councilman Anton Karl Neff later swearing in new board members Aaron Dunn and Jean Ann Schmittgens to begin their three-year terms of service. Dunn and Schmittgens join Abrell and fellow board of supervisors' members Steve Fox and Doris Scully.

The evening also featured a plate dinner prepared by the Spencer VFW Post #1405 Auxiliary, along with 22 vendor booths and an array of silent auction items.