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Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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My Indiana Home magazine's mission is to connect Indiana Farm Bureau members with the food they eat, the Indiana farmers who grow it and a rural lifestyle that is uniquely Hoosier, including recipes, gardening tips, travel, events and much more. This magazine is produced quarterly for Indiana Farm Bureau members by Journal Communications.
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A MAGAZINE FOR INDIANA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS my-indiana-home.com Spring 2012 Flower Power Beauty blooms at Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale Farm Gates to Dinner Plates Noble County launches state’s first farm-to-fork tour
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Page 1: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

A mAgAzine for indiAnA fArm BureAu memBers

my-indiana-home.comSpring 2012

Flower PowerBeauty blooms at Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale

Farm Gates to Dinner PlatesNoble County launches

state’s first farm-to-fork tour

Page 3: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 1

FeatureS

6Flower PowerBeautybloomsatHilltopOrchidsinCloverdale

10For Love of the LandYoungfarmersshareapassionforagriculture

14Barn in the U.S.A.Individuals,organizationspreserveIndiana’sruralpast

DePartmentS

4 InAlmanac Learnaboutmintfarms, locallymadesalsaandmore

18 EatIn Freshtakesonspringrecipes includepesto,soupandmuffins

24 TravelIn NobleCountyorganizes farm-to-forktour

28 Insurance Autopolicychangesincrease discountsforcustomers

30 IntheGarden Brightenupyourgarden withbeautifulbulbs

32 InFocus Readerphotossentinbyyou

spring 2012

On the cOver Hilltop orchids in Cloverdale, ind.Photo by Jeff Adkins

24

18

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Page 4: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

2 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

vOlume 2, number 3

PresidentDonVillwock

vice PresidentRandyKron

Second vice President IsabellaChism

chief Operating Officer & treasurer MarkSigler

editorAndyDietrick

managing editorKathleenDutro

marketing & Public relations SpecialistMindyReef

multi-media Specialist MikeAnthony

Web Designer/DeveloperDianeBrewer

administrative assistantCharlaBuis

editorial Project manager JessyYancey

copy editor JillWyatt

Proofreading managerRavenPetty

content coordinator BlairThomas

contributing WritersKimGaleaz,SusanHayhurst,CollettaKosiba,KimRanegar,CJWoodring

creative Services DirectorChristinaCarden

Publication Design DirectorMurryKeith

Senior Graphic DesignersJanineMaryland,VikkiWilliams

creative technology analystRebeccaAry

Photography Director JeffreyS.Otto

Senior Photographers JeffAdkins,BrianMcCord

Staff PhotographersToddBennett,AntonyBoshier

Web creative Director AllisonDavis

Web content manager JohnHood

Web Project manager NoyFongnaly

Web Designer IIRichardStevens

Web Development lead YamelHall

Web Developer I NelsNoseworthy

Web account manager LaurenEubank

ad Production manager KatieMiddendorf

ad traffic assistants KrystinLemmon,PatriciaMoisan

I.t. Support technician DanielCantrell

Database manager/It Support ChandraBradshaw

accountingDianaGuzman,MariaMcFarland,LisaOwens

executive Secretary KristyDuncan

receptionist LindaBishop

chairmanGregThurman

President/PublisherBobSchwartzman

executive vice PresidentRayLangen

Sr. v.P./OperationsCaseyHester

Sr. v.P./Sales ToddPotter

Sr. v.P./agribusiness PublishingKimNewsomHolmberg

v.P./visual contentMarkForester

v.P./external communicationsTereeCaruthers

v.P./content OperationsNatashaLorens

controllerChrisDudley

Distribution DirectorGarySmith

Senior Integrated media managerRobinRobertson

My Indiana HomeisproducedfortheIndianaFarmBureaubyJournalCommunicationsInc.,725CoolSpringsBlvd.,Suite400,Franklin,TN37067,(800)333-8842.Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthismagazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent.

My Indiana Home(ISSN2157-1465USPS249-880)ispublishedquarterlybyIndianaFarmBureauInc.,225S.EastSt.,Box1290,IndianapolisIN46206-1290.Controlledcirculation.Subscriptionpriceof$2peryearincludedintheduesofFarmBureaumembersinIndiana.PeriodicalpostagepaidatIndianapolis,Indianaandadditionalentrypoints.

Postmaster:SendaddresschangestoMy Indiana Home,P.O.Box1290,Indianapolis,IN46206-1290.

Member AssociationofMagazineMedia

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Pleaserecyclethismagazine

A mAgAzine for indiAnA fArm BureAu memBers

Farmharvesting understanding Afteryoureadaboutthisyear’swinnersoftheYoungFarmerawardsonpage10,goonlinetoreadaboutthe2011winners,theScarboroughsandtheBurbrinks.

FOODSpring brunch recipes Thinkbeyondthebreakfastcasserolewithourdietitian-approvedcollectionofbrunchrecipes.Findfrittatas,fruitsaladsandmuchmoreatmy-indiana-home.com/brunch.

mY InDIanacoming Soon: email newsletter Getrecipes,Indianaevents,farmfacts,travelideas,gardeningtipsandmoredeliveredtoyourmailinboxonceamonthbysigningupatmy-indiana-home.com/newsletter.

my-indiana-home.comConnect to your food, your farmers and a uniquely Hoosier lifestyle

FOOD travel FarmS hOme & GarDen mY InDIana

cOnnect WIth uSlike us on facebookfacebook.com/myindianahome

share your photos my-indiana-home.com/photos

follow us on twittertwitter.com/myinhome

watch our videos on youtubeyoutube.com/myinhome

Page 5: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 3

enjoyed learning about your product [“the rise of clabber Girl,” Winter 2011-12]. Mymotherusedit,sothenameandlabelarefamiliartome.Iwouldliketostopin[toyourheadquartersinTerreHaute].Our11-year-oldgranddaughterislearningtobakefromscratchwhensheiswithme,soshewouldenjoywhatyouhavetooffer.

Juneviamy-indiana-home.com

Editor’s note:In our winter issue, we announced a giveaway for Columbus, Ind.-based 240Sweet’s artisan marshmallows. Of the 162 entries we received, Amber D. of Indianapolis won the marshmallow sampler. Thanks to all who entered the contest and commented about which flavors they’d like to try. The winner was chosen at random, but here are a few of our favorite responses. Visit my-indiana-home.com to learn about upcoming contests and giveaways.

mmm...What a great local business with some innovative ideas! Iwouldlovetotrythewhitechocolatesnow…whitechocolatemakeslifesomuchbetter!

nathan millerviamy-indiana-home.com

choose a favorite?Goaheadandaskmewhichofmychildrenismyfavorite.HowcanIpossiblychooseonebestflavorfromalloftheincrediblydelicious-soundingflavorsoffered?Well,I’lltry.I’lltrybecauseIwanttolearnifthesemarshmallows(dareIcallthemjustmarshmallows)areassweetonthelipsastheyareontheears.Somethingcompelsmeaboutthebacon,mapleandtoffeemarshmallow.Asthesnowfallsaroundmetonight,thatflavorcombinationtakesmetoawarm,rich,wonderfulfall/winterbreakfast.Yum!

Shelley Strongviamy-indiana-home.com

Do you have a question about something you read in My Indiana Home? Send questions, feedback and story ideas to [email protected].

Welovehearingfromyou,whetherbyemail,commentsonourwebsite(my-indiana-home.com)orevenatweetorFacebookpost.Inmanycases,yournotescanhelpusimprovetheexperienceofotherreadersorwebsitevisitors,sopleasekeepthemcoming!

InBOx

1. Hand-feed a bison, pick your own strawberries and more on the noble county Farm to Fork tour.

2. Learn the importance of preserving rural farm structures.

3. Sip wine and sample cheeses during the Indiana Wine trail’s Spring Into the valley.

4. & 5. Meet award-winning young farmers from Boone and Jackson counties.

6. Stop and smell the carefully bred flowers at hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale.

7. Taste the salsa and other homemade goodies sold by two cookin’ Sisters in Brookston.

5

6

4

3

In this Issue

A mAgAzine for indiAnA fArm BureAu memBers

my-indiana-home.comWinter 2011-12

leading the FlockThe Russells continue family tradition of raising sheep

Guiltless PleasuresDig in to winter comfort foods with a (healthy) twist

the rise of clabber Girl

1

27

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Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 5 4 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

Salsa for SisCombine10yearsof4-Hexperience,acoupleofhandfulsofsweetandspicypeppersandabitofsisterlylove,andyouhavetherecipeforBigSisterSalsa.

KristiRobinsonRensbergerandKimRobinsonstartedsellingsalsaattheBrookstonApplePopcornFestivalin2001.TwoCookin’SistersSpecialtyFoodCo.&Shopopenedin2005withshelvesfullofjams,picklesandmuchmore,followedbyanicecreamshop,ThePrairieStreetMarket.Visitwww.bigsistersalsa.comtolearnmore,orfindthemat210S.PrairieSt.inBrookston.

In the huntPlanningtohuntwildturkeyinthisspring?Anonlineresourceoffersaquickandsimplewaytoconnectwithlandownersinyourpreferredhuntingareas.

BaseCampLeasingprovidesanonlinelocationforlandownersandhunterstoconnectandcontracttheleasingforhuntingrights.Thewebsiteallowshunterstoviewlanddescriptions,prices,mapsandphotographsoftheprivatelandavailabletothem,whileBaseCampservesasthebroker.Tolearnmoreaboutthebusinessandtoviewproperties,visitwww.basecampleasing.com.

barnyard chroniclesWhydopigsrollinthemud?Howlongdoesittakeformilktogofromcowtogroceryaisle?What’sitlikegrowinguponafarm?ThesearejustafewofthequestionsansweredbythelearningtoolsavailableonBarnyardChronicles,awebsitethatoffersgamesandquizzeswherekidscanlearnaboutIndianafarmlife.

Forgrown-ups,BarnyardChroniclesoffersrecipesfromthefarm,healthandnutritioninformation,alongwithdiscussionsabouthottopicssuchasantibioticsinporkandhormone-freeeggs.TeacherswillalsofindlessonplansandclassroomactivityideastohelpeducatetheirstudentsaboutIndianaagriculture.

Checkoutthefunatwww.barnyardchronicles.com.

InALMANAC

Farm Facts: mintPeppermint and spearmint have been grown in Indiana since the late 1800s. Today, the state ranks fourth in the nation in the production of peppermint and fifth in spearmint. Here are more fun facts about mint:

• 11 percent of U.S.-produced peppermint is grown in Indiana.

• The four varieties of peppermint are Black Mitcham, the original selection from the wild, and three variations: Todd’s Mitcham, Murray Mitcham and Robert’s Mitcham.

• Native spearmint is used to flavor toothpaste and dental hygiene products, whereas Scotch spearmint has a milder, more pleasant taste and is used in chewing gum and candies.

• Mint is grown for the oils it produces in specialized glands on the leaves and stems. This oil is recovered by distilling the harvested plants using steam.

• About 23,000 acres of peppermint and 2,500 acres of spearmint are harvested in Indiana each year.

Find more minty-fresh fun facts at my-indiana-home.com/mint.

Source: Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service

Page 7: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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SAVETHEDATE

Spring Into vineyardsWineanddinealongtheIndianaWineTrailwithSpringintotheValley,oneofthetrail’sannualevents.Thiscelebrationpairsbreadsandcheeseswithsomeofthestate’sbestwinesatsixwineriesalongthetrailinsoutheasternIndiana,aregionthatclaimsthefirstsuccessfulwineryinAmericabackintheearly1800s.

Thehalf-dozentrailpartnersareErtelCellarsWineryandRestaurantinBatesville;TheRidgeWineryinVevay;StreamCliffFarmWineryinCommiskey;andLanthierWinery,MadisonVineyardsEstateWineryandtheThomasFamilyWinery,allinMadison.Eachwineryhasitsownmenu.

SpringintotheValley,slatedforApril14-15,isthesecondinaseriesofeventsalongtheIndianaWineTrailthroughouttheyear.Tolearnmoreaboutthiseventandothersalongthetrail,visitwww.indianawinetrail.com.

BLOGSPOTLIGHT

a latte With Ott, a.Grabacupofcoffeeandcurlupinyourfavoritechairtodiscussfood,farmsandgardeningwithanoldfriend.Shemightnotbethereinperson,butAmyOtt–knownasOtt,A.online–wantsherblogreaderstofeellikethey’resittingaroundtalkingandenjoyingcoffeetogether.

Herblog,ALattewithOtt,A.,featurespostsaboutgardening,bakingandcanning,amongotherthings.Shealsohostsmonthlyrecipecontestsforwhichbloggerscookwithathemedingredientsuchasduck,lamborartichokes.

TheRochesternativefirststartedbloggingaboutherfamily’sflockofShropshiresheep.Ott,A.nowlivesinGreenfieldwithherhusband,Ott,E.

Followalongatwww.alattewithotta.com.

Discount for Young DriversIndianaFarmBureauInsurancenowoffersayouthfuldriverdiscountprogramfordriversbetweentheagesof16and24.

Tobeeligibleforthisdiscount,theyouthfuldrivermustcompleteaneducationalenrollmentprocessaboutsafeandresponsibledriving.

Driverswhohaveenrolledandmeetalltheprogramrequirementsareeligibletoreceivetheyouthfuldriverdiscountontheautopolicytheyareratedon.

Formoreinformationortoenrollintheyouthfuldriverdiscountprogram,contactyourlocalIndianaFarmBureauInsuranceagent.Tofindalocalagent,visitwww.infarmbureau.com.

Page 8: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 7

PowerBeauty blooms at Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale

story by kim ranegarPhotography by Jeff adkins

Walking into the greenhouse at Hilltop Orchids in Cloverdale is like being greeted by 70,000 happy children. And Dick Wells is the proud papa.

“When people walk into our greenhouse, the first thing they usually say is ‘Wow!’ ’’ says Wells, orchid expert and owner of Hilltop.

Wells has felt the “wow” of orchids for more than 50 years – since he was just 17 years old. “A friend of mine opened the door to 650 orchid plants he was growing in a 12-by-12-foot greenhouse in his backyard in Indiana,” he recalls. “I had never seen an orchid before, except for corsages, and I was amazed.”

Wells immediately began saving the 60 cents an hour he was making at the local dairy bar, eventually scraping together enough to buy his first orchid plant. “It was $40! Funny thing is, you can get that same plant today for $30 or $35 all day long, but it was $40 in 1954,” he says.

Though Wells graduated from Citadel Military College of South Carolina and went on to a 30-year career in insurance, his fascination with orchids continued to bloom. What began with an 8-foot by 10-foot greenhouse is now the largest orchid-growing operation in all of the Hoosier State. Hilltop Orchids began selling plants in 1991, and Wells retired from the insurance business

Flower

dick and sandy Wells own Hilltop orchids in Cloverdale. dick Wells began growing orchids in 1954 when he was 17, opened his business in 1991 and today grows more than 70,000 plants in his greenhouses.

Page 10: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

8 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 9

three years later to pursue his passion full time.

Today, Hilltop offers a variety of orchids, most grown from seeds, which Wells starts in a carefully controlled lab. Seedlings take years to grow under special incubation, and as they grow, classical music plays around the clock. Hilltop creates 50 to 100 new hybrids each year, for which Wells has earned more than 70 national awards.

Beyond the awards, customer service is top priority at Hilltop. Wells recounts a story of a customer who visited one Christmas Eve. “He was coming from St. Louis for Christmas gifts and had trouble getting here. He arrived at midnight, we went out to the greenhouse where he picked out his gifts, and he left at 2 a.m. on Christmas morning.

“That’s what I mean by customer service,” he says. “We live 60 feet from the greenhouse, and if we’re home, we’re open,” he says.

Hilltop has four connected greenhouses, providing just under a quarter of an acre under cover, and sells up to 35,000 orchids each year through on-site retail, wholesale purchases and online. The website helps nationwide buyers choose plants by color (plus stripes or spots), genus, size, price range and even fragrance. “Some of the

fragrances are just wonderful,” Wells says. “Some smell like lilac. We have an oncidium that smells like chocolate.”

The fragrances attract pollinators, he explains. Yet in the controlled environment of the greenhouse, Wells does the pollinating by hand, allowing him to produce new varieties of plants. “I’m the big bumblebee in the greenhouse,” he says.

Hilltop offers greenhouse tours and education. Wells is a guest lecturer for regional universities and hosts frequent tours for the National FFA Organization. “People are attracted to the unusual blooms of orchids. Many think they’re delicate or difficult to grow, but they’re not,” says Wells. (See sidebar for his simple orchid-growing tips.)

Up to 42 orchid species are indigenous to Indiana, though not the greenhouse varieties offered at Hilltop. Most of its orchids spend several years in the greenhouse before they’re sold. Orchids are fully mature – that is, reach maximum bloom – at five to seven years, and most can live 15 to 20 years, according to Wells. “Whatever it takes to grow an orchid, we have it right here,” he says. “We offer the products as well as our guidance and enjoy what we do.”

If You Go

Hilltop Orchids 1151 E. County Road 800 S.

Cloverdale, IN 46120 (765) 795-6016

www.hilltoporchids.com

Open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment

if you call ahead

cloverdale

most of the greenhouse orchid varieties at Hilltop orchids are grown from seeds in a carefully controlled laboratory setting. The seedlings take years to grow under special incubation, and Wells pollinates them by hand.

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7 tips to Get Started

Dick Wells of Hilltop Orchids offers the following tips on how to successfully grow orchids:

1. Start with a phalaenopsis (fal-en-OP-sis), or “moth” orchid, as they are one of the easiest to grow and will reward you with multiple, large, showy flowers on each spike. A phalaenopsis will stay in flower from a couple of months to six or seven months, says Wells.

2. Choose a window facing east or west – or a southerly window if it’s protected from direct sunlight. Orchids like diffused light.

3. Water every seven to 12 days, depending on how much heat passes over them. Water by placing the plant in the sink and pouring nonsoftened water over them. Let them drain, and then return to their normal spot.

4. Fertilize every other watering.

5. Repot every year or 18 months, but do not increase the pot size dramatically – generally no more than one or one and a half size larger. “If you overpot, the potting media will sour and the roots will turn brown and die. Orchids love to be root-bound,” says Wells.

6. Be sure to use a soilless orchid potting mixture, not dirt.

7. Keep your orchid in a plastic pot with holes in the bottom. If you like a decorative pot, place the plastic pot inside and disguise the top with moss, says Wells.

Every plant sold at Hilltop Orchids comes with a handy care and feeding manual to help anyone succeed at growing orchids.

Page 12: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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ForLove of the

Page 13: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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Young farmers share a passion for agriculture

story by kathleen M. dutroPhotography by Jeff adkins

On the surface, Indiana farms look a lot alike – but appearances can be deceiving. Making a living in agriculture, while giving the next generation a chance

to farm, requires flexibility and resourcefulness.The winners of two of Indiana Farm Bureau’s most

prestigious awards for young farmers exemplify these characteristics. They share a love for agriculture, but they are accomplishing the goal of making it their life’s work in different ways.

hIGh achIeverSDon and Jennifer Shoemaker’s route to farming could

be considered traditional. Both grew up on farms and now farm with Don’s parents, Eugene and Barbara, producing corn, soybeans, seed soybeans and wheat, and “finishing” (that is, bringing to market) several hundred head of cattle annually.

The Jackson County farm has expanded since Don began farming full time after graduating from Purdue University in 2003, and it now consists of 1,350 acres, most which are rented.

Their land is a mix of “beach sand to river bottoms,” Don says.

While he and his father work together, they focus on different things.

“I joke that if a problem has roots or wheels, it’s my division, but if it has legs, it’s Dad’s,” he says. “Basically, I finance and manage the crops, Dad does the same with the cattle, but we both work for each other.”

One of Don’s responsibilities is working with the USDA’s Environmental Quality Improvement Program, making sure the farm is environmentally friendly through the use of techniques such as careful management of fertilizer use on the farm.

A farm with both cattle and grain isn’t unusual. What is unusual is the way the Shoemakers blend the two by using the same fields for both cattle and grain, but not at the same time. They keep cattle on their sandy, rolling pastures during the winter, and then they plant corn on those same fields in the spring. The cattle are fed from portable feeding units and graze off the corn residue, and they “fertilize” the field as they graze.

Jennifer spends most of her work hours teaching math at a local high school. But as a farmer’s daughter – her parents’ farm is about 3 miles away – she is familiar with what it takes to make a farm successful. She helps prepare equipment, runs for supplies and parts, helps out in the

Love Landof the

Clinton Taylor holds a handful of freshly harvested feed corn from his family’s 4,000-acre farm in Boone County.

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fields and generally makes herself useful.The Shoemakers won the Indiana Farm Bureau’s

Young Farmer Achievement Award in December.“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to farm

and enjoy sharing the story of production agriculture with others,” Don says.

On-Farm, OFF-Farm excellenceClinton and Julie Taylor of Boone County are taking a

slightly different route to full-time farming. It’s fair to say they lead busy lives, because while both work with Clinton’s parents, Tom and Jan, on the family farm, they also have full-time off-farm careers. Clinton manages his family’s construction business, and Julie is a family and consumer

science teacher at Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School.The plan, Julie explains, is for Clinton to eventually

take over the farm from his dad – “and I would love to stay home on the farm.” But for now, they work both on- and off-farm.

The family farm consists of nearly 4,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat. Clinton’s primary role, in addition to helping with planting and harvest, is incorporating and implementing the use of technology on the farm. Julie also assists as needed, and is, in her words, “slowly but surely learning to operate equipment.”

Their off-farm jobs have strong ag components. The general contracting business that Clinton manages specializes in construction for farmers and commercial

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ag businesses, and in her classroom, Julie fits agriculture into her lessons at every opportunity.

“With one of my primary subjects being food and nutrition, I incorporate agriculture in nearly every unit of study,” she says. “In other classes, I’m able to incorporate agriculture-related careers; explanation of food costs for budgeting; fabric and textile origins; and other topics related to current events.”

The Taylors are very involved in their community. Both are active members in their church, and both are active in Farm Bureau as well. Julie is the public relations coordinator for Boone County Farm Bureau while Clinton is the secretary/treasurer. He also serves on the local zoning appeals board, and Julie is the facilitator

of the Kiwanis Leadership Academy. Their commitment to agriculture and their community was recognized in December when they were named the winners of the IFB Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award, which honors young farmers who are involved in agriculture but who do not own a farm.

below: Clinton and Julie Taylor won the 2011 Young farmer excellence in Agriculture Award. Clinton works at his family’s construction business, while Julie incorporates ag into her health class. opposite page: don and Jennifer shoemaker won the 2011 Young farmer Achievement Award. don works on a fifth-generation cattle and grain farm in Jackson County, and Jennifer also brings experience from growing up on a family farm.

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Individuals, organizations preserve Indiana’s rural past

story by cJ woodring

Red barns once dotted the nation’s rural landscape. For generations, they were landmarks that defined an era.

As the number of farmers dwindled – fewer than 2 percent of Americans today make their living as farmers – these icons became victims of age and abandonment. Many were razed. Others stand as ghostly skeletons, wooden bones bleached and rotted by the elements.

While preserving these symbols of cultural heritage, many owners have also opted to restore the structures to their original condition.

In 1987, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.preservationnation.org) and Successful Farming magazine launched Barn Again!, an initiative to encourage and support preservationists’ achievements nationwide. Thought no longer operational, the program spurred more local efforts for rural preservation.

In the Hoosier State, the Indiana Landmarks’ Rural Preservation Council (www.indianalandmarks.org) and the Indiana Farm Bureau co-sponsor an annual award that recognizes exemplary preservation of a rural/agricultural farm building.

SavInG a PIece OF hIStOrYFishers resident Robert Myers knows all about

preserving old agricultural structures. He partnered with his brother in restoring the original log cabin home,

barn and smokehouse on his family farm, located in Cass County near Peru. Myers admits nostalgia played a role, but the motivating factor was historic preservation.

“We’re losing our barns, particularly those with historic value, due to size and shape,” he says, referring to the difficulties farmers experience when they try to fit modern equipment in historic structures. “And how many log cabins does one see any more? Sure, I was raised there, but this wasn’t merely a sentimental journey. I knew what it once looked like and could look like again.”

An early landowner built the cabin in 1840, using timber from the site. Myers’ great-uncle purchased the farm in the late 1880s and in 1912 began construction of the 64-foot by 68-foot barn, a magnificent edifice boasting Dutch doors, six dormers and 37 windows. The barn, not quite large enough to house today’s farm machinery, was built for horses, cattle and hogs.

Myers’ father bought the property in 1920. His brother, Richard, took over ownership in 1981. Richard Myers retains all but a one-acre parcel on which the buildings are located, which are owned by Robert Myers.

The brothers tackled the restoration in December 2003. “Richard wanted to help me, so I hired him as my chief carpenter,” Myers says. “He had tools, equipment and knowledge, and I had none of that.”

Together, they painted, plastered, scraped, waterproofed, roofed, sided and rebuilt. Along the way, they received advice and assistance from knowledgeable craftsmen.

in the U.S.A.BARn

robert and Joyce myers restored several historic buildings on his family’s property in Cass County, including a barn built in 1912. PHoTo BY Jeff Adkins

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Myers says he made more than 200 visits to the site – a 100-mile round trip from his home – and spent an estimated $40,000 for labor and materials.

Although the last major project was the May 2006 cabin roof replacement, he says work will never end.

Myers does offer words of wisdom to anyone considering a similar labor of love. “Seek advice from people involved in historic preservation and renovation,” he says. “If unable to do it yourself, hire competent craftsmen.”

reWarDInG reStOrInGDo you know a similar story of

someone who’s worked hard to save a historic agricultural building? Nominate him or her for the John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation.

The annual award, co-sponsored by the Indiana Landmarks’ Rural Preservation Council and Indiana Farm Bureau, recognizes the preservation and continued use of historic (more than 50 years old)

farming-related structures. “We know we can’t save them all, but

we want to help those who want to restore and preserve these icons,” says Tommy Kleckner, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Western Regional Office in Terre Haute.

Established in 1992, the award honors Arnold, a Rush County farmer killed in a 1991 farm accident. A nomination form is available each March on the Indiana Landmarks website. The award is presented on Farmer’s Day at the Indiana State Fair in August.

Barn Again! in Indiana also presents helpful workshops each spring and fall. “It’s basically Barn Preservation 101, basic knowledge of preferred practices,” Kleckner says. “Technical assistance is about the only help we can provide.”

Though Myers is ineligible for the Arnold award because his restored buildings aren’t used as a working farm, he has no doubts about whether or not he would do it again.

“Yes,” he says emphatically. “In the end, it was all worth it.”

Preservation Prize To nominate someone

for the rural preservation prize, contact Tommy

Kleckner with the Indiana Landmarks organization at (812) 232-4534 or go online to www.indiana

landmarks.org.

above: indiana Landmarks honored margie and gary Byerly of owen County with the John Arnold Award for rural Preservation in 2008. They are currently accepting nominations for the 2012 award. opposite page: in addition to the myers’ 100-year-old barn, they also renovated a mid-19th-century cabin that houses a wood-burning stove.

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Page 19: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

PHoTos BY Jeff Adkins

Robert Myers’ restored barn, which turns 100 years old in 2012, features

37 windows.

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 17

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story and recipes by kim Galeaz | Photography by Jeffrey s. otto | food styling by Mary carter

Take a break from all that traditional spring cleaning and spend some time with your recipe file. After all, even recipes – and your taste buds – can benefit from a little sprucing

up from time to time. Pitch those recipes you’ll never get around to making, keep your old standbys and add a few that will expand your repertoire, excite your taste buds and even offer additional health benefits.

Old Standby: Macaroni and Cheese with Ham and PeasFresh Take: Green Pea Soup with Fresh Mint

Green soup that’s good for your heart! Peas are loaded with cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber, and the onions, garlic, carrots and celery all contain powerful disease-fighting nutrients. Best of all, this soup calls for frozen green peas, which are just as nutrient-rich as fresh (and less work for you!) since frozen vegetables are packed immediately after harvesting.

Old Standby: Spinach Salad with Bacon DressingFresh Take: Spinach-Arugula-Walnut Pesto over Whole-Wheat Penne

Traditional basil pesto is a staple during spring and summer, but creating unique variations with different herbs, greens and nuts offers a whole new taste sensation. Combine in-season spinach leaves with peppery arugula and walnuts for an earthy, less oily version of pesto. Whole-wheat pastas are filled with nutrients and fiber, meaning you just might fill up with a smaller portion.

Old Standby: Strawberry Shortcake Fresh Take: Fresh Strawberry Muffins

Fresh strawberries star in these easy, half-whole-grain muffins. They’re perfect for Mother’s Day breakfast in bed, weekend brunches or any special breakfast or snack. Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C and provide nutrients to fight cancer and keep your heart and brain healthy.

Happy, healthy springtime to all!

18 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

Fresh Takes on

Celebrate the tastes of the season with healthy variations of old standbys

FlavorsSpring

Page 21: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Green Pea Soup with Fresh Mint

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups diced onions

4 large garlic cloves, minced

¾ cup peeled and chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

6 cups vegetable broth or stock, divided*

2 (16-ounce) bags frozen green peas (about 7 cups)

1 heaping cup packed mint leaves (roughly 1 ounce)

5 to 6 teaspoons lemon juice

½ teaspoon finely minced lemon zest

light sour cream or plain yogurt, lemon zest and mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Ina5-quartpanorDutchoven,heatoilovermediumheat.Addonions,garlic,carrotsandcelery.Cookabout10minutesoruntilvegetablesstarttosoften.Stirinpepperandsaltalongwithenoughvegetablebrothtocompletelycoverthevegetables,about4½to5cups.Bringtoaboil.Stirinfrozenpeasalongwithremainingvegetablebrothandreturntoaboil.Reduceheattolowandsimmer10to12minutes,oruntilpeasaretenderbutstillbright,vividgreen.

Stirinmint,lemonjuiceandlemonzest.Removepanfromheat.Usingaregularorimmersionblender,pureethesoupinbatches.Ladleintobowlsandgarnishwithadollopoflightsourcreamorplainyogurt,lemonzestandamintleaf,ifdesired.Refrigerateleftoversinatightlycoveredcontainer.

*Useslightlymorebrothifyoupreferathinnersoup.

Yields 6 (1 cup) servings.

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 19

EAT In

Page 22: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

20 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau

Spinach-Arugula-Walnut Pesto Over Whole-Wheat PennePesto:

10 ounces baby spinach*

5 ounces arugula*

2/3 cup chopped, toasted walnuts

4 garlic cloves

¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 to 3 teaspoons fresh lemon zest

½ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

½ to ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper

½ cup extra virgin olive oil**

1 (12-ounce) package whole-wheat penne pasta, cooked

cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half for garnish (optional)

Addhalfthebabyspinachtoafoodprocessorandpulseuntilcoarselychoppedandreducedinbowl.Addremainingspinachandcontinuepulsing.Addarugula,walnuts,garlic,Parmesan,lemonjuice,zest,salt,pepperandcrushedredpepper.Processuntilsmooth.Addoilslowly,processinguntilthoroughlyincorporatedandsmooth.

Serve¼cuppestoover1¾to2cupscookedpenne,ortosstogetherinindividualdishes.Garnishwithgrapetomatoes,ifdesired.

*Lookforpackagesorcontainersofprewashedspinachandarugula.

**Thispestoisdesignedtobemore“veggie”thanoil,soifyoupreferaglossier,oilierpesto,addextraoliveoilasdesired.

Yields 2¾ cups pesto and 7 to 8 cups pasta, or about 4 servings.

Spinach’s phytonutrients include lutein

and zeaxanthin, which offer

numerous eye health benefits.

Fresh Strawberry Muffins1¼ cups white/whole-wheat flour

(such as King arthur brand)

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

¾ cup low-fat buttermilk

½ cup canola oil

1 tablespoon unsweetened natural applesauce

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon fresh finely grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1¾ cups chopped fresh strawberries

1½ tablespoons raw sugar

Preheatovento400°F.Arrangeovenrackincenterposition.Coat12standardmuffintinswithvegetablecookingspray.Ifusingpaperbakingcups,spraythebottomofeachpapercup.Setaside.

Inalargebowl,whisktogetherbothflours,sugar,bakingsoda,bakingpowderandsalt.Inamediumbowlorglassmeasuringcup,whisktogetherbuttermilk,oil,applesauce,lemonjuice,zestandvanillaextract.

Makeawellindryingredientsandpourinliquidmixture.Stirwithfork,woodenspoonorrubberspatulajustuntilingredientsarebarelycombined,about20strokes.Therewillstillbesomeunincorporatedflourmixtureonbottomofthebowl.Addstrawberriestobatter,andstirjustuntilingredientsarecombined.(Overmixingwillresultintoughmuffins.)

Dividebatteramong12muffincups.Sprinklewithrawsugar.Bakefor18to20minutes,oruntilatoothpickinsertedincenterofamuffincomesoutclean.Transfertoawirerackandcoolabout5minutesbeforeremovingfrompan.Enjoywarm.

Yields 12 regular-sized muffins.

* tips & notesThese muffins are quite moist due to the berries and best served the day they’re baked. They’re a little more finicky than most muffins when it comes to removing them from the tins to the cooling rack, too. Leftovers can be stored in a loosely covered container, as a tight container will turn the muffin tops soggy due to the berry moisture.

about the author Registered dietitian Kim Galeaz is an Indianapolis-based writer and culinary- nutrition consultant to the food, beverage and agriculture industry. She’s passionate about blending good taste with good health in every culinary creation – even decadent dessert – and balancing with daily power-walking. A link to her blog, “The Dietitian Does Dessert ... Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Too” is at www.kimgaleaz.com.

Page 23: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

hungry for more Read more smart selection tips and nutritional notes for these dishes, plus find even more fresh recipes (including that spinach salad with bacon dressing), at my-indiana-home.com/spring-flavors.

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 21

Strawberries are a rich source of disease-fighting antioxidants like

vitamin C.

Page 24: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

22 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 23

member benefitsDid you know that your Indiana Farm bureau membership comes with exclusive savings? as a member, you can take advantage of the discounts on products and services listed here.

For more information on member savings and benefits:

1-800-777-8252 www.infarmbureau.org

It pays to be a member.

The goal of Indiana Farm Bureau Member Benefit Programs is to provide discounts, value-added benefits and convenience to you, our members. Indiana Farm Bureau does not endorse these products or services. Indiana Farm Bureau and the companies offering these programs do not guarantee that program discounts will be the lowest available price at any given time. Farm Bureau members should provide the ID number if applicable or identify themselves as members of Indiana Farm Bureau when calling any program. Programs are subject to change or termination without notice and some rules and restrictions may apply.

Special Farm Bureau Discounts!

Order online at www.grainger.com and receive Free shipping, or call or fax your order anytime.

Phone: 877-202-2594

Fax: 877-202-2593

be sure to use IFb Grainger account number (855921177).

Save 7%call 1-800-695-8133 or visit www.dell.com/eppbuy and use member ID PS80331428.

Grainger

Dell

Page 25: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 23

$500 Savingseligible Indiana Farm bureau members can now receive a $500 discount on each qualifying 2011or 2012 model year chevrolet, Gmc or buick vehicle they purchase or lease. this Farm bureau member exclusive is offered for vehicles purchased or leased at participating dealerships through Farm bureau’s Gm Private Offer.

To qualify for the offer, individuals must have been a Farm Bureau member for at least 60 days prior to the date of delivery of the vehicle selected.

• Members simply go to www.fbverify.com, enter their membership number and zip code, and print off a certificate to take to the dealership.

• Very Important: Discount must be processed at time of delivery.

• The Farm Bureau discount is stackable with some incentives and non-stackable with others. GM Business Choice is an approved incentive program. See dealership for full details.

Gmt-mobilelow cost

trailer Supplies

Save 12%* and receive

discounts on new activations

new customers call 1-866-464-8662, option 3 existing customers call 1-877-453-8824 and reference the Farm bureau program.

When calling provide IFb membership number and use Promotional code 13032tmOFav.

*on qualifying monthly recurring charges, exclusions apply

Save 10%visit www.lowcosttrailer supplies.com and enter coupon code InFb1023 during the checkout process.

Page 26: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

24 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 25

Farm Gates

Page 27: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 25

PlatesNoble County organizes state’s first countywide farm-to-fork tour

story by susan hayhurstPhotography by Jeff adkins

Would you like to learn how to hand-feed a buffalo? Did you know that lavender can soothe

your palate, or that chickens on the same farm can lay eggs of different colors?

Noble County’s countywide Farm to Fork tour – Indiana’s first – offers these interactive experiences while you follow your food’s journey from how it’s grown to how it ends up on your kitchen table.

PrOmOtInG lOcal PrODuctSThe multisite agritourism activity

partners area farmers with the Noble County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The tour, which runs from March to October, promotes the products of local family farms in northeastern Indiana.

John Bry, a self-described former farm kid who is now executive director of the Noble County CVB, says organizers want to feed the public’s desire to know where their food comes from. “Starting in spring 2011, we explored the connection of farm to fork with Purdue Extension and area

to Dinner

If You Go...

Noble County’s Farm to Fork tour runs from March through October. Individual and group tours are available.

Noble County Visitors & Convention Bureau Kendallville, Ind. Toll-free: (877) 202-5761 Local: (260) 599-0060 www.visitnoblecounty.com

noble county

TRAVEL In

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26 myIndiana home IndianaFarmBureau Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 27

growers,” Bry explains. “We want to be a marketing outlet [for the farms] and share their stories.”

People want to eat healthy, he adds. “Many people want to grow their own food, and they can learn from the avenues we’re offering. This tour’s main ingredients are education and local availability.”

FeeDInG the SenSeSYour senses will relish the tour experience from the

heady scent of Lavender Lane, a Rome City farm growing a dozen varieties of lavender and producing soaps and potpourri, to the crisp freshness of Orchard Hill Farms, a 10,000-tree apple operation in Kendallville.

Another treat, the multigeneration Maple Acres in Avilla, offers maple sugaring and syrup-making tours. DeCamp Gardens offers vegetables, flowers and farm-fresh eggs near Chain O’Lakes State Park in Albion. Visitors can pick their own berries at LeCamp’s Strawberry Farm in Wawaka. Cook’s Bison Ranch in Wolcottville takes visitors on guided wagon rides for a hands-on experience feeding some of the ranch’s 300 bison.

New to the tour in 2012, Country Heritage Winery and Vineyard in LaOtto invites guests to sniff, swirl and sip its various vintages. Other farm stops highlighted in the fall feature pumpkin patches and corn mazes.

Fun FOr the FamIlYErica Cook, Cook’s Bison Ranch tour director,

says her farm fits perfectly with the new county tour. “Bison is native to this country, and we’re showcasing

what’s available and healthy,” she says. “Lots of people haven’t tried bison meat, so this tour is a great way to market it and get people to taste and enjoy it.”

And these tours have something for all ages. “We’ve had toddlers to wheelchair-bound elderly visit,” Cook says. “They’re in awe of being so close to the animals.”

Tour visitors can also explore the nearby Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site and Sower Farmstead.

“We hope to create a farm-to-fork hub with a centralized market outlet for our producers there,” Bry says.

It’s an indication that, just like the food these farms produce, the tour will grow and flourish over the years.

This tour’s main ingredients are education and local availability.

Twelve-year-old Taylor Trittipo, bottom left, tastes a berry at LeCount’s strawberry farm, a springtime destination on noble County’s farm to fork Tour. guests on the tour this time of year can enjoy the pick-your-own strawberry patch in Wawaka, as well as additional agritourism attractions throughout the county, such as Lavender Lane in rome City, Cook’s Bison ranch in Wolcottville and deCamp gardens in Albion.

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Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 27

What Is agritourism? Today’s society is said to be three generations removed from agriculture. Few adults and even fewer children have visited farms or seen a cow or pig up close.

“We’re an urban-centered population, and we’ve lost connection with our ag heritage and roots,” says John Bry, executive director of the Noble County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s important for people to know the story of where their food comes from.”

To re-engage the public with farms, the term “agritourism” was coined in the mid-1990s to describe enterprising farmers and ranchers inviting visitors to their operations. Visitors may learn how cows are milked and crops are raised, or trek through cornfields and berry patches.

“Agritourism tells the story of food and the people behind it,” Bry says. “They share their knowledge and experience while the public tastes, samples, participates and ask questions. It’s touristy, but it’s also reality. Our farm-to-fork tour is a great example of agritourism at work.”

This tour’s main ingredients are education and local availability.

Page 30: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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The Times They Are A-Changin’Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance auto policy changes increase discounts

story by rick nelson, director of public affairs, indiana farm bureau insurance

The auto policies they are changing – for the better, to paraphrase singer-songwriter

Bob Dylan. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance

has changed its auto policy contracts and improved its processing. Our new auto policies protect you with broader coverage than before.

We have also established some new discounts and new optional coverage endorsements that will help provide solutions to fit your specific coverage needs.

In January 2012, we began converting those auto policies scheduled to renew in March. We will convert the majority of policies by the middle of 2012.

We have redesigned the “declarations page” – that’s the one that tells you who is a rated driver and which vehicle is insured for what coverage – to be simpler and easier to read. Any discounts you receive will be displayed on that page.

For current customers who add or replace autos and new customers, the

time between quoting your policy and issuing that policy will decrease. If you change your policy, you will get the first bill in the amount you expect, and you will get it more quickly.

Highlights of our discount changes include:

PrIvate PaSSenGer vehIcleS, IncluDInG PIcKuPS anD vanS

A new accident-free discount is available and will automatically be applied for eligible customers. You may be eligible for a discount of up

InSURANCE

Page 31: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 29

Take the trip of a lifetime you’ve always wanted!

For more information and a brochure, call:

YMT Vacations 800-888-8204

$1,898*pp

from

includes tax/service fees

alaskaPlus West Coast Train Tour

(13-Day Cruise and Tour from $1,898)

Space is filling quickly on this unique and popular tour departing May through September 2012. Fly to San Francisco, travel to

Napa/Sonoma Valley to board the Amtrak Coast Starlight to Seattle. Here you’ll board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel for your

seven-night cruise of Ketchikan, Juneau, Sawyer Glacier, Skagway and Victoria, B.C. before heading back to Seattle.

*Price includes tax/service fees. Add $200 for June and August dates. Add $400 for July dates. Call for low cost airfare from your closest major city.

to 30 percent, depending on the number of continuous years your auto policy has been with us. This discount also enables you to earn accident forgiveness protection.

We are introducing a 20 percent new business discount for eligible policies.

Auto policies on which youthful drivers (ages 16-24) are rated may be eligible for discounts sooner to reward safe driving.

We are introducing discounts for antilock braking and passive restraint safety equipment for eligible vehicles.

mOtOrcYcleSA premium discount will be

automatically applied to qualifying motorcycle policies if you also insure your home with us.

A preferred motorcycle rate will be available if you also have a private passenger personal auto policy written in our VALET Auto Program.

If you have questions about these changes, please contact your Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance agent, who can schedule a C.A.R.E. (Client Account Review and Evaluation) to assess all your insurance needs. You will find your agent’s name and contact information near the top of your declarations page. You can also contact us at www.infarmbureau.com or call us at (317) 692-7200 or (800) 723-3276.

For more information about our personal auto policy and new available discounts, please visit our website at www.infarmbureau.com/auto.

If your current auto policy renews in March, April or May, these changes are reflected in renewal packets that began arriving in January 2012.

Page 32: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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Beautiful BulbsBrighten up your garden with lilies, caladiums and other flowers

InTHEGARDEN

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Spring2012 my-indiana-home.com 31

Find recipes, tips and food for thought at

farmflavor.com.

grow, cook, eat, learn

story by colletta kosiba

Summer bulbs are the exclamation points in my garden. Simple and effortless

to plant and grow, incorporate them in your own beds to enjoy fantastic flowers and get raves from visitors.

lOvelY lIlIeSLilies are among the prettiest

bulbs. All of these lily varieties are perennial plants with bulbs that should be planted 8 inches to 12 inches deep. They require no care, other than weeding, and are pest free. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Asiatic lilies are inexpensive, come in an array of colors and start their show in June.

• Oriental lilies are taller and very fragrant. They bloom in July, just in time to enter them in the county fair.

• Liatris have long lavender vertical bloom spikes in mid-July.

• Alliums send up round heads with tons of tiny flowers that come in different heights and can be white, pink, purple or blue. Look for them in early June.

• Surprise lilies’ green foliage sprouts in early spring, then disappears. Plant the bulbs in either a sunny or shady area. Come late August to September, a long stem arises, and four pink lilies bloom with no foliage. (Also known as “Resurrection” lily and “Naked Lady.”)

about the author Colletta Kosiba of Hendricks County has been a naturalist at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis for 15 years. She is an advanced Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and past president of the Hendricks County Master Gardeners’ Association. “Colletta’s Gardens” have also been featured on Channel 8 television in Indianapolis.

clockwise from top: stargazer (an oriental lily); Casa Blanca (an oriental lily); caladiums; liatris.

FraGIle FlOWerSTender summer bulbs such as

gladiolus, canna and caladium bulbs must be dug up before the ground freezes and stored where they won’t freeze. When your tomatoes are ready to move outdoors, it’s also a good time to plant your tender summer bulbs.

Gladioli come in a rainbow of colors with each plant flaunting a long spike of f lowers. Some gladiolus varieties are winter hardy with smaller flowers.

Tropical-looking cannas and caladiums, both grown for their foliage, love the summer heat. Cannas enjoy the sun and work well in pots around the pool. Their flower colors vary with multicolored leaves. Caladiums are stars of the shade garden, brightening it up with heart-shaped, bicolor leaves.

Having a backup supply of moisture, summer bulbs stay safe underground and survive with minimal rain.

Any of these florals offer a rainbow of color, and their ease of growth and maintenance will amaze you. Why not begin by planting a group of 20 Asiatic lilies?

And, as a bonus, they make beautiful bouquets.

Page 34: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

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PHoTo suBmiTTed BY Jeremi sCHorTgen, monroe

Worth a Thousand WordsThe old saying rings true for our reader-submitted photos

PHoTo suBmiTTed BY deBBie sTougH, JeffersonviLLe

InFOCUS

SubmIt YOur PhOtOSIndiana Farm Bureau members are welcome

to submit photos for this page. To submit a photo via email, send a high-resolution JPEG (4x6 inches at 300 dpi), along with your name and location, to [email protected]. You can upload your Indiana photos to our website at www.my-indiana-home.com/photos.

To submit a photo via mail, send the photo to: My Indiana Home, Reader Photos, P.O. Box 1290, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1290.

Due to the high volume of photos we receive, we are unable to include every photo, and if you mail your photo in, we will not be able to return it. So make sure you have a spare – we don’t want to lose one of your family treasures!

PHoTo suBmiTTed BY deB mAxWeLL, vALPArAiso

PHoTo suBmiTTed BY mike sWAgger, vAn Buren

Page 36: Spring 2012, My Indiana Home

Indiana Farm Bureau’s New Program with General Motors

Eligible Indiana Farm Bureau members can now receive a $500 discount on each qualifying 2011 or 2012 model year Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicle they purchase or lease. This Farm Bureau member exclusive is offered for vehicles purchased or leased at participating dealerships through Farm Bureau’s – GM PRIVATE OFFER.

Twenty-seven GM models are part of the program:

ChevroletChevrolet Avalanche

Chevrolet Aveo

Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Colorado

Chevrolet Corvette

Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Equinox

Chevrolet Express

Chevrolet HHR

Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet Silverado

Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet Suburban

Chevrolet Tahoe

Chevrolet Traverse

GMCGMC Acadia

GMC Canyon

GMC Savana

GMC Sierra

GMC Terrain

GMC Yukon

GMC Yukon XL

BuickBuick Enclave

Buick LaCrosse

Buick Lucerne

Buick Regal

To qualify for the offer, individuals must have been a Farm Bureau member for at least 60 days prior to the date of delivery of the vehicle selected.

• Members simply go to www.fbverify.com, enter their membership number and zip code, and print off a certificate to take to the dealership.

• Very important: Discount must be processed at time of delivery and after October 10, 2011.

• The Farm Bureau discount is stackable with some incentives and non-stackable with others. GM Business Choice is an approved incentive program. See dealership for full details.

• For a closer look at GM vehicles, go to www.gmfleet.com.


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