By Andi Anderson
An Indiana Farm Bureau member has earned national recognition for her leadership and service to agriculture. Megan Espinda, a member from Henry County, placed third in the Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation National Convention.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award honors young farmers and ranchers who do not earn most of their income directly from farming but who actively support and contribute to Farm Bureau, agriculture, and community organizations.
The competition highlights individuals who are building strong careers while remaining deeply connected to the agricultural industry.
As the third place winner, Espinda will receive several awards. These include a $2,500 Investing in Your Future cash prize from AmericanAg, a Case IH branded safe provided by Case IH, and $2,500 worth of merchandise from Stanley Black and Decker.
These prizes recognize her commitment to agriculture and her leadership within the Farm Bureau community.
Espinda shared what the recognition means to her, stating, “Winning this award is an incredible honor because it represents more than just my individual efforts. It reflects the strength of the Farm Bureau community and the support of people who have invested in me along the way.”
Espinda grew up on a sixth generation family farm in Henry County. Today, she uses that background in her role as agricultural liaison for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
In this position, she works closely with farmers and regulatory agencies to help ensure that agricultural policies remain fair, practical, and supportive of long term farm sustainability.
She is also active in local agricultural programs and serves as the Henry County Farm Bureau education and outreach coordinator. She lives in Greenfield, Indiana, with her husband and continues to promote agricultural education and community involvement.
Espinda qualified to compete at the national level after winning the Indiana Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award at the Indiana Ag Gathering in December.
Indiana Farm Bureau leaders praised her achievements. INFB President Randy Kron said, “Indiana Farm Bureau is so proud of what Megan has accomplished. Her dedication to Indiana agriculture and the hard work she put into representing our organization so well sets a great example for other young farmers in our state.”
Photo Credit: INFB
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle