By Andi Anderson
After three decades with Indiana Farm Bureau, the editor of The Hoosier Farmer is saying farewell as she begins retirement. For years, she has been asked what she enjoys most about her work, and her answer has always been simple: meeting members across the state, learning about their families and farms, and writing stories that introduce those individuals to readers. This connection has remained her greatest joy throughout her 30-year career.
Her official last day was December 1, 2025, marking exactly 30 years and two days since she first joined INFB on November 29, 1995. As she steps into retirement, she looks back on countless meaningful moments and stories she had the privilege to share.
One early favorite was a 2001 story featuring Jim Campbell of Morgan County, founder of the Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb Company. Known for growing peppers ranging from mildly hot to extremely spicy, he also created sauces from his produce, including the Red Savina habanero.
When asked if he had ever made a grown man cry, Campbell responded, “All the time.” The line still makes her laugh decades later.
Not all memories were humorous. She recalls covering significant weather challenges, such as the 2012 drought, which brought the driest June on record in parts of Indiana. In 2013, she interviewed cattleman Jim Lankford and hog producer Bill Tempel.
Their words stood out: “I’m not sure what normal is any more. It seems like we go from one extreme to the other,” Lankford said. “There is no ‘normal’ here,” Tempel added.
Rising fuel prices also shaped coverage. In 2022, Mark Bacon of Rush County explained, “A year ago, $80 or $90 would fill up my truck, but it was $142 when I filled it up yesterday.”
The Hoosier Farmer also opened doors to interview notable figures, including Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. Drummond offered timeless writing advice: “You definitely have to be yourself in your writing, no matter what ‘yourself’ is, and that’ll come through.”
Other unforgettable stories came from a 2007 issue on tenderloins and ice cream, where readers described unusual flavors such as green bean, onion, elderberry and lobster. One reader recalled a 1956 cherry milkshake: “It tasted like fingernail polish remover.”
The editor closes her farewell with gratitude for the officers, staff and especially the members of Indiana Farm Bureau who allowed her to share their stories for 30 years.
Photo Credit: indiana-farm-bureau
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle