As one of the most successful and longest-running management programs specifically crafted for farmers, the Purdue Top Farmer Conference is a one-day event for agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals looking to navigate the complexities of today's agricultural landscape. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers and hear from farm management experts and agricultural economists from Purdue, Farm Credit Services of America, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Acres, a land value data analytics company.
Don Villwock
Villwock Farms
Don Villwock of Edwardsport, Ind., is owner/operator of Villwock Farms, which produces white corn, soybeans, seed soybeans and popcorn. A 1972 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in agricultural economics, Don served as state executive director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service from 1989 to 1993. He was also the state agricultural liaison for U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. Don was appointed to the national Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture in 1997.
Don just retired as president of Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. He is also a member of the American Farm Bureau board of directors and the executive committees of the Farm Bureau Bank, American Agricultural Insurance Company and AFBIS.
In addition to Farm Bureau, Don has been involved with the Indiana Corn Growers, Indiana Soybean Growers and the Indiana Pork Producers. He has served as chairman of the Indiana Institute of Agriculture. Other leadership positions and awards include Purdue Distinguished Agricultural Alumnus, past president of the Purdue Ag Alumni Association, Prairie Farmer Master Farmer, Friend of Extension, 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and Sagamore of the Wabash (the highest honor that can be bestowed by Indiana’s governor).
Don and his wife, Joyce, have two married daughters.
Upon graduating from Purdue University with a degree in farm management, Don Villwock established Villwock Farms in 1972. The original farm consisted of 170 rented acres and a farm machinery share agreement with Don’s father. Since 1973, the same year Don married his wife, Joyce, the farm has grown almost every year. Today, the operation consists of 1,000 owned acres and more than 3,000 rented acres from 16 landlords.
Villwock Farms is a 30-year no-till, sustainable operation that hopes to continually expand and be successful. It is currently a value-added producer of white corn, popcorn, seed corn, seed soybeans and seed wheat. More than 800 acres are center-pivot irrigated, which expands double-crop yields and crop rotation opportunities. The operation’s acreage is located in Knox, Daviess, Sullivan and Greene counties. Due to eminent domain in 2008, the farm operation, including shop/office, machinery storage and a 400,000-bushel grain center had to be relocated and constructed new. Don is the current president of Indiana Farm Bureau, so he is away from the farm often. Joyce is the book keeper, and Jason Misiniec is the day-to-day farm manager. Jason is transitioning into machinery acquisition and has bought a farm on his own.
Don Villwock
Villwock Farms
Don Villwock of Edwardsport, Ind., is owner/operator of Villwock Farms, which produces white corn, soybeans, seed soybeans and popcorn. A 1972 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in agricultural economics, Don served as state executive director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service from 1989 to 1993. He was also the state agricultural liaison for U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. Don was appointed to the national Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture in 1997.
Don just retired as president of Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. He is also a member of the American Farm Bureau board of directors and the executive committees of the Farm Bureau Bank, American Agricultural Insurance Company and AFBIS.
In addition to Farm Bureau, Don has been involved with the Indiana Corn Growers, Indiana Soybean Growers and the Indiana Pork Producers. He has served as chairman of the Indiana Institute of Agriculture. Other leadership positions and awards include Purdue Distinguished Agricultural Alumnus, past president of the Purdue Ag Alumni Association, Prairie Farmer Master Farmer, Friend of Extension, 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and Sagamore of the Wabash (the highest honor that can be bestowed by Indiana’s governor).
Don and his wife, Joyce, have two married daughters.
Upon graduating from Purdue University with a degree in farm management, Don Villwock established Villwock Farms in 1972. The original farm consisted of 170 rented acres and a farm machinery share agreement with Don’s father. Since 1973, the same year Don married his wife, Joyce, the farm has grown almost every year. Today, the operation consists of 1,000 owned acres and more than 3,000 rented acres from 16 landlords.
Villwock Farms is a 30-year no-till, sustainable operation that hopes to continually expand and be successful. It is currently a value-added producer of white corn, popcorn, seed corn, seed soybeans and seed wheat. More than 800 acres are center-pivot irrigated, which expands double-crop yields and crop rotation opportunities. The operation’s acreage is located in Knox, Daviess, Sullivan and Greene counties. Due to eminent domain in 2008, the farm operation, including shop/office, machinery storage and a 400,000-bushel grain center had to be relocated and constructed new. Don is the current president of Indiana Farm Bureau, so he is away from the farm often. Joyce is the book keeper, and Jason Misiniec is the day-to-day farm manager. Jason is transitioning into machinery acquisition and has bought a farm on his own.