Who's News for April 26

Three officials from Putnam County were among the more than 140 individuals from across Indiana attended a biennial flood conference March 13 in Indianapolis.

Putnam County EMA Director Tom Helmer and Assistant Director, Dave Costin, along with Greencastle City Planner Shannon Norman, were among the emergency managers, floodplain managers, engineers, planners, and environmental managers in attendance.

The conference, called Operation Stay Afloat, was organized by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Flooding is one of the most common disasters that Indiana and the United States face each year. As such, education about flooding and how it affects Indiana is important.

This was the sixth time the biennial Operation Stay Afloat conference was held.

Cloverdale native Mariah Huge recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to learn more about aquaculture and to receive training to help lead the 2014 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, presented by Monsanto.

4-H youth leaders from eight states participated in the training at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center from March 21-23.

The 2014 4‑H Ag Innovators Experience makes agriscience relevant and fun for youth, and helps young people develop the professional skills needed to meet rising global demand for food.

On Saturday, March 22, participants learned about the importance of the aquaculture industry during a presentation given by Laura Tiu, Aquaculture Extension Specialist at Ohio State University. Agriculture students and faculty at Ohio State designed the "Fish Farm Challenge" as this year's 4-H Ag Innovators Experience activity.

Participants broke into groups of four and worked on the main event: the Fish Farm Challenge. Their specific task was to engineer a food-distribution system that evenly dispenses soy-based fish food pellets over a 3-foot paper mat representing a fish farm tank.

This system could then be transferred to an aquaculture tank on a tilapia farm.

In April and May, Huge will share the activity with other teen leaders throughout Indiana. These teen leaders will then implement the activity with at least 1,000 youth in June.

After completing the activity, participants can create a video to demonstrate potential applications in their local communities. Four winners will be chosen, and each will receive a $2,500 award.

The 2014 4-H Ag Innovators Experience is piloting in eight states this year: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. For more information, contact Tony Carrell, extension specialist, at 765-494-8435 or tcarrell@purdue.edu.

Cloverdale resident LANE HACKER is the recipient of an $11,000 Academic Achievement Scholarship and a $4,000 Gateway Grant to attend Wilmington College.

He plans to major in animal science and ag business.

Hacker will graduate in May from South Putnam High School. His activities and honors include Future Farmers of America (chapter president, district vice president), varsity football (All-Conference and County, Wabash Valley Coaches Association Academic Team and Lineman) and varsity wrestling (All-County 2012 & 2013).

He is the son of Wes and Nicole Hacker of Cloverdale.

Other types of scholarships and award amounts are available from Wilmington College, a career-oriented liberal arts institution affiliated with the Society of Friends (Quakers). It is located in southwestern Ohio, approximately one hour from Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.

DAVID TAYLOR has been named Financial Services Officer for Farm Credit Mid-America in Greencastle. Taylor will service loans and financially related services for a $19 billion financial lending cooperative, serving more than 96,500 farmer-producers, agribusinesses and rural residents throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

His territory includes the Hendricks, Parke, Putnam, and Vermillion County areas. He holds a BA degree from DePauw University.

David comes to Farm Credit with more than 20 years of financial experience.