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.
Levi Huffman
Huffman & Hawbaker Farms
Levi Huffman is owner/operator of Huffman & Hawbaker Farms, which includes his wife, Norma; son, Aaron,and his wife, Roberta; and son-in-law, Jim, and his wife, Sherilyn Hawbaker. Levi’s farm responsibilities include grain marketing, crop insurance and government program decisions, along with support of both grain and vegetables enterprises.
Levi is a graduate of the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program and currently serves as a director for the Indiana Soybean Association, WISHH (ASA) and FieldWatch Inc. He is a member of the North Central Management Education Center Board, Indiana Farm Policy Group and the Purdue University Dean’s Advisory Committee. Levi is also active in his local church.
His other leadership positions and awards include the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Certificate of Distinction, Purdue APEX Award, Outstanding Leadership and Service (Tippecanoe County Purdue Extension Service), State Farm Management Tour (Indiana Farm Management Association), Distinguished Service Award (Tippecanoe County Pork Producers) and Service Award (Indiana Pork Industry).
Huffman & Hawbaker Farms is a family owned and operated farm located near Lafayette, Ind. Established in 1972, the farm now consists of grain and vegetable production and contract hog facilities. Levi and Norma Huffman are the general managers; Aaron and Roberta Huffman manage the grain crops and hog facilities; and Jim and Sherilyn Hawbaker manage the vegetable crops. They have five key employees and hire 120 seasonal employees at their harvest peak season. As their management philosophy includes making decisions based on the ever-changing climate of agriculture, crop rotation and mixes change annually. 2014 projections include corn and soybeans for the traditional crops, and contracted tomatoes, peppers and cabbage for processing for the vegetable crops.
Huffman & Hawbaker Farms’ vision includes expanding acres and crops for the fifth generation coming on. They are positioning to take advantage of opportunities that are available to the family farm. They embrace technology that gives them a competitive edge, and they continue to explore new options of markets and enterprises. Huffman & Hawbaker’s philosophy is best stated by their mission statement that they formulated in 1998 when Aaron and Jim joined the operation: “To be good stewards of God’s many blessings, we endeavor to produce quality agricultural products by utilizing our abundant resources, preserving the family farm entity while meeting the individual needs of each family, offering a helping hand where needed, and maintaining a sense of community responsibility while governed by Christian principles.”
Levi Huffman
Huffman & Hawbaker Farms
Levi Huffman is owner/operator of Huffman & Hawbaker Farms, which includes his wife, Norma; son, Aaron,and his wife, Roberta; and son-in-law, Jim, and his wife, Sherilyn Hawbaker. Levi’s farm responsibilities include grain marketing, crop insurance and government program decisions, along with support of both grain and vegetables enterprises.
Levi is a graduate of the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program and currently serves as a director for the Indiana Soybean Association, WISHH (ASA) and FieldWatch Inc. He is a member of the North Central Management Education Center Board, Indiana Farm Policy Group and the Purdue University Dean’s Advisory Committee. Levi is also active in his local church.
His other leadership positions and awards include the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Certificate of Distinction, Purdue APEX Award, Outstanding Leadership and Service (Tippecanoe County Purdue Extension Service), State Farm Management Tour (Indiana Farm Management Association), Distinguished Service Award (Tippecanoe County Pork Producers) and Service Award (Indiana Pork Industry).
Huffman & Hawbaker Farms is a family owned and operated farm located near Lafayette, Ind. Established in 1972, the farm now consists of grain and vegetable production and contract hog facilities. Levi and Norma Huffman are the general managers; Aaron and Roberta Huffman manage the grain crops and hog facilities; and Jim and Sherilyn Hawbaker manage the vegetable crops. They have five key employees and hire 120 seasonal employees at their harvest peak season. As their management philosophy includes making decisions based on the ever-changing climate of agriculture, crop rotation and mixes change annually. 2014 projections include corn and soybeans for the traditional crops, and contracted tomatoes, peppers and cabbage for processing for the vegetable crops.
Huffman & Hawbaker Farms’ vision includes expanding acres and crops for the fifth generation coming on. They are positioning to take advantage of opportunities that are available to the family farm. They embrace technology that gives them a competitive edge, and they continue to explore new options of markets and enterprises. Huffman & Hawbaker’s philosophy is best stated by their mission statement that they formulated in 1998 when Aaron and Jim joined the operation: “To be good stewards of God’s many blessings, we endeavor to produce quality agricultural products by utilizing our abundant resources, preserving the family farm entity while meeting the individual needs of each family, offering a helping hand where needed, and maintaining a sense of community responsibility while governed by Christian principles.”