That’s the theme for the 68th Annual State Farm Management Tour July 5-6, 2000 just north of Lafayette. Formed in 1932 to encourage and develop management skills in farming, the State Farm Management Association, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Economics Department have selected five host families for this year’s tour. Visitors can see corn and beans and cows and pigs, but the focus is on evaluating the management skills of the host families. Visitors should evaluate how compatible each host’s goals are with their material resources and mind/muscle skills. Greenhouse in PA who furnishes Walmart in several states.

Then, look for evidence of their production, marketing, finance, and personnel management skills. On Wednesday evening, Senator Richard Lugar will share his risk management insights, based on materials he’s presented to the Senate Ag. Committee.

1:00pm, Wednesday, July 5 – Levi and Norma Huffman of near Buck Creek have recently brought their son and daughter’s families into their business. The six adults now meet monthly and conduct business in their own farm advisory board. They are now implementing the mission statement they created in their first three monthly sessions. In addition to a large hog and grain operation, they produce processing tomatoes for Red Gold Cannery and Indian corn for Dan Schantz’ Greenhouse in PA who furnishes Walmart in several states.

3:00pm, Wednesday, July 5 – Just west of Brookston, Walter Kelley and his wife own 1800 acres of the best farmland anywhere. One 400 acre field yielded just under 200 bushels per acre in 1999. Their engineering graduate son, Kevin, is entering the business this year. Kelley is widely recognized for his skills in manufacturing farm sprayers. Walt and Kevin are now also partnering with a neighbor in planting corn. They will complete a new bin and dryer installation before harvest.

7:00pm, Wednesday, July 5 – Harrison High School Auditorium, just north of West Lafayette, Honorable Richard G. Lugar, U.S. Senator, will speak on “Risk Management and other Ag. Policy Issues”. As Chairman of The Senate Agricultural Committee, Senator Lugar has been and is expected to continue to be among the most influential politicians on issues related to agriculture.

8:00am, Thursday, July 6 – Brothers Dave and Mike Harper of Eastern Jasper County got into farming when their Dad died while the were still in high school. They substituted mind and muscle for money and once finished 5000 hogs in pasture and mud lots while also producing grain. Now at 5600 grain acres, they’re also sub-leasing another 1300 acres to others until they’re ready to farm it themselves. Learn how they’re teaching their values to their kids as they help them with their hay, vegetables and custom baling business.

10:00am, Thursday, July 6 – Harold and son, Jon Kingma, farm 1500 grain acres and 200 acres of Christ-mas trees in Jasper county. Harold is past president of the State Christ-mas Tree Assn. Consider how their tree work increases the number of days they can do field work, in April, June, and November. The tour lunch will be held in their new heated floor farm shop. After lunch, Purdue’s Chris Hurt will present his crop/hog commodity price outlook.

1:30pm, Thursday, July 6 – Veterinarian Mike McClosky is managing partner of the new 10,000-cow Fair Oaks Dairy in eastern Newton County. He’s also manager of his dairy marketing coop which is marketing milk into southeastern US cities. In addition to learning about his people management, feed sources, manure disposal, and milk marketing plans, tour visitors will see 72 cows being milked at a time on a large turn-Table by four people. Tour visitors are asked to obtain a free “Dairy” admission ticket at one of the Wednesday tour sites.

Farmers are encouraged to look for useful management processes which they might adopt or adapt. Landlords and potential landlords are invited to learn how the hosts can pay a competitive rent and also create and carry out a successful business and family lifestyle. Input suppliers and output buyers may learn how to better serve their customers. City folks may bring their kids and grandkids and marvel at the changes since the good old days.