Advertise on podcast: The Breakdown with INFB

This episode is a recording that originally was part of Indiana Farm Bureau's Farm Business and Diversification Conference on September 10, 2026. Todd Janzen from Janzen Schroeder Ag Law presents "Agriculture Contracts - What Constitutes a Contract?" To access other resources from that conference, visit infb.org and access recordings here.

Laura Campbell, senior conservation and regulatory relations specialist for Michigan Farm Bureau, presented this session at Indiana Farm Bureau's Critical Issues Summit on Aug. 21, 2026. This is a recording of her presentation on how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as PFAS - could potentially impact agriculture and what farmers need to be aware of. Laura's slide deck for this presentation can be found here: https://www.infarmbureau.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/unlisted-doc-links/campbell-pfas-and-agriculture-pathways-impacts-management.pdf

On this episode we talk about Indiana Farm Bureau’s biggest consumer-facing event of the year, Taste From Indiana Farms. This popular, free event, hosted by INFB Women’s Leadership Committee every year at the Indiana State Fair is our way of showing folks more about where their food comes from. Emily Young, INFB’s member engagement coordinator, talks about what fairgoers can expect this year. We also talk to two of the vendors who are providing samples for this year's event, Tracy Bruce from Scholars Inn Bakehouse (granola) and Mayasari Effendi from SoyaMaya (tempeh chips).

An interview with John Shoup, director of the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation, and Chatney Gelfius, INFB member who has participated in our succession planning workshop.  This episode, we talk about planning for the next generation of farmers. If something unexpected happened to your farm operation tomorrow, would you be okay? Visit www.infb.org/events for more information about our upcoming estate and succession planning programs.

Advocating for agriculture is a pillar of Indiana Farm Bureau membership, and our staff is constantly on the move making sure local, state and federal policies are beneficial and not burdensome to farmers and rural communities.  On this episode, we're talking to two of our policy experts to give us a rundown of what to expect in the coming months and how members can get involved. Brantley Seifers is the director of national affairs for Indiana Farm Bureau and Ryan Hoff is the senior director of government affairs.

On this episode, we’re diving into some of the challenges Indiana’s rural communities face and how we might address those challenges in the future. Rural counties represent 70% of Indiana's land and 64 of its 92 counties, yet they account for just 29% of the state's population. These communities often experience lower income levels, limited access to healthcare services, and worse health outcomes compared to their urban counterparts. To dig deeper into some of these critical issues, we talk to Dan Hardesty who serves as the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Indiana Rural Health Association.

Diversification on the farm these days is almost essential to withstand the ebbs and flows of the various commodity and input markets.  This episode features two farm families who have found some success in building onto the business of their family farm - Suzanne and Lauren Flanders with Simply From Scratch, and Katie Pennington with Brock Farms.

In 2026, the world celebrates the International Year of the Woman Farmer – a United Nations initiative recognizing the vital role women play in agriculture and agribusiness. To celebrate, Indiana Farm Bureau is highlighting the important work of female members across the state, as well as welcoming three new district education and outreach coordinators to the INFB Women’s Leadership Committee, which educates the public through programs and events that promote a positive image of agriculture. Featured in this episode is INFB 2nd Vice President Janis Highley, Joy Tracey (District 2), Kathleen Allbaugh (District 4) and Tracy Morgan (District 5). Visit our website for more information on the WLC here: https://www.infarmbureau.org/get-involved/women's-leadership-committee

A conversation with Mary Pat Sass,  a farm wife, mom and ag advocate from northern Illinois. With a background in agricultural technology, she transitioned from a corporate ag career to life on her family’s farm, where she discovered the power of storytelling in modern agriculture.  Through social media, MP has built a large and engaged audience by sharing honest, everyday moments from farm life and rural motherhood. She uses her platform to advocate for agriculture, bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, and encourage others in agriculture to confidently share their own stories online.  You can find her at @marypat.sass on Instagram.

This week we kicked off an eventful season in the Indiana Farm Bureau world with the continuation of the 2026 Indiana General Assembly. Engaging in policy is a foundation of Farm Bureau membership, and there is no shortage of issues on the docket this year that could impact agriculture. For this episode, we brought two of our policy experts and INFB leaders to the podcast to give us a rundown of what to expect in the coming months and how members can get involved. Randy Kron is the president of Indiana Farm Bureau who also farms in southern Indiana, and Katie Nelson is the executive director of public policy for INFB.

This interview provides a sneak peak into of some of the topics that will be discussed at the Indiana Ag Gathering, formerly known as State Convention, to be held Dec. 12-13, 2025, at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana. Damon West, best-selling author, philanthropist and college professor, talks about his personal story of overcoming extreme adversity. West shows that no matter what the obstacles are in your life, you, too, can overcome them by choosing to be like the coffee bean and change your pot of boiling water into a pot of coffee. Visit https://infb.org/events for more information.

A conversation with Ben Wicker and Hans Schmitz from the Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance (IANA). They talk about what their organization does and how Farm Bureau members can use their assistance to fine-tune nutrient management practices, maximizing productivity while protecting Indiana’s resources. Visit keepitmidwest.com for more information.

A discussion with representatives from Indiana's three Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters: Jayden Simpson from Purdue University, Tara de Jong from Huntington University, and Emma Buening from Vincennes University. These three students talk about issues they care about in agriculture, where they see the industry going and how to get involved at the college level. Visit the INFB website for more information.

The Indiana State Fair is over, but Indiana Farm Bureau is celebrating a successful showing at the annual weeks-long event and quality time spent with the youth involved in agriculture. Annie Romine, INFB's youth engagement coordinator, shares more about her work with youth and collegiate level Farm Bureau activities and how more young people can get involved in agriculture. Want to learn more? Visit infb.org or contact Annie at [email protected].

An interview with Mark Sigler, INFB chief operating officer and treasurer, who is retiring Sept. 1 after 38 years with Farm Bureau. Sigler started at INFB in 1987 as marketing assistant in the commodity department and in the years since has held a number of positions within the organization. He talks about the changes that have happened in the industry since he began and what he hopes his legacy will be.