Berry seeking re-election to District 4 County Council seat

Keith Berry

Keith Berry has announced his candidacy for re-election to the Putnam County Council on the Republican ballot in the May 6 primary election.

Berry is seeking re-election to the District 4 seat on the Council.

"It has been my honor to serve on the Putnam County Council since being elected in 1998," Berry said. "I have tried to appropriate your tax dollars as I believe you would to operate the county in an efficient manner."

Berry was raised on a farm just south of Greencastle and planted his first crop in 1965, and has been farming ever since. Outside of farming, he did work 13 years at Allison In Indianapolis to help make a living for his family.

Today Berry and wife Sharyl live on their farm just north of Putnamville.

They have one son, Brian Berry and daughter-in-law Lisa, and one daughter, Donna Hines and son-in-law Brian, along with four grandchildren, Justin and Collin Berry, Cailyn and Payton Hines.

The candidate is also involved on the board of directors of Co-Alliance Co-op LLP, which is a billon-dollar company in annual sales, and as past president of the Indiana Pork Producers association, and served as past president of the National Pork Producers Council in 2004.

Berry, who was also involved in the beginning of the South Putnam Aquaculture program, received the 2008 Putnam County Agriculture Hall of Fame Farm Family of the Year Award, and in 2010 was awarded Master Farmer of the Year honors by Indiana Prairie Farmer Magazine.

He also participated in a 2010 trade mission to China, sponsored by the Indiana Department of Agriculture and led by then-Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.

"I have been very blessed," Berry said, "and have received more than I deserved, and I am very, very thankful."

Currently he serves as president of the Pastor Parrish Committee and trustee of the Putnamville United Methodist Church.

"I believe the County Council and the commissioners and county officeholders have a good, open working relationship," Berry said, "and I hoped that continues."