Upholding the legacy

BROOKVILLE, Ind. — Meet Mindy Orschell, AgriNews’ new From the Fields contributor in southern Indiana.

Orschell and her husband farm in Franklin County. She also serves on Indiana Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee and American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee.

She shared her story with AgriNews.

Q: Tell us about your family farm.

A: We are located in Brookville. We grow corn, soybeans and hay along with a beef cattle herd that supplies our feedlot and direct-to-consumer beef sales operation.

Currently, I work full-time off the farm as a payroll and tax accountant and help on the farm when I can on evenings and weekends. My husband runs the daily operations, and our three grown children also pitch in when needed.

Q: What’s going on with Farm Bureau this time of year?

A: Our Franklin County Farm Bureau members have made three different trips to the Statehouse to meet with our legislators to advocate on behalf of issues that are vital to agriculture during this legislative session.

Getting property tax relief and water policy put in place are super important to our members this year.

The final touches are going into our local Ag Day and also on the radar are plans for county fairs. We have been brainstorming on how Farm Bureau can have the biggest impact at our fairs.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your involvement with Farm Bureau?

A: For me personally, Farm Bureau is the gift that keeps on giving. I have benefited tremendously from my involvement with Farm Bureau. Probably most enjoyable are the connections made with like-minded people from all over the state and country.

Being involved in Farm Bureau is so important to me because it’s the “Voice of Agriculture.” In today’s world, we need help to promote and educate others on our industry — and Farm Bureau does just that.

Q: What do you love about farming?

A: I love that farming is sharing a little bit of your own heritage, work ethic and faith with others. For me, it’s knowing that on a very small scale we are providing an essential product that others can benefit from.

Q: What do you think makes the ag community special?

A: Indiana farmers are true team players who realize there is strength in working together for a common good. I believe that a key to the secret sauce goes deep into the heart of the men and women in the ag community that are genuinely working selflessly to uphold the legacy in which they were raised.