2 receive Women in Agriculture awards at state fair
The 2011 Women in Agriculture are Stacey Pedigo of Dorsey Farms in Frankfort (left), who received the Achievement Award, and Susan Brocksmith, agribusiness instructor and chair of Vincennes University's Business and Management Department, recipient of the Leadership Award. (Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Keith Robinson)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Extension gave special recognition to two women at the Indiana State Fair on Friday (Aug. 12) by presenting them with Women in Agriculture awards for their career-long achievements and leadership.
The Achievement Award, recognizing women who are directly involved in a home farming operation, was presented to Stacey Pedigo for her work at Dorsey Farms, a 1,500-acre corn-soybean-wheat operation in Frankfort owned by her father, Paul Dorsey. She also was noted for her involvement in education and numerous farm-related organizations.
The Leadership Award, given to a woman in an agribusiness or policy-making position, was given to Susan Brocksmith, chair of the Business and Management Department at Vincennes University, where she also is an agribusiness instructor.
The awards were created six years ago to help recognize women who make a positive contribution to Indiana agriculture, said Christa Holloway, a health and human sciences Extension educator in Fulton County and an organizer of the awards program.
"By validating the importance of women in the industry, we hope to encourage others to seek agriculture as their livelihood," Holloway said. "Since Purdue Extension is about making a difference in the lives of people, it is only fitting the awards go to two women who have gone above and beyond in their respective realms. They are role models for both women and men by educating people about Indiana agriculture."
Pedigo is involved in crop production, management and marketing at Dorsey Farms, but her work in agriculture extends beyond the farm.
She is an Ag in the Classroom instructor and co-chair of the Clinton County Farm Education Conservation Camp, a fourth-grade educational program co-sponsored by the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District and Clinton County Farm Bureau.
She and her husband, Aaron, developed a computer game, "Reap What You Know," modeled after the television game show "Jeopardy." The game, which teaches participants about agriculture, has been used in several classrooms.
Pedigo has been a member of the Clinton County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for several years, and she has represented agriculture during the ongoing Clinton County Comprehensive Plan process.
Pedigo has been a 4-H volunteer for the past 14 years as an assistant leader with the Tractor Project.
Several years ago, she helped develop a Clinton County Young Farmers group and has been co-chair of that organization since its inception.
Last spring, Pedigo received a grant to establish an outdoor classroom at Blue Ridge Elementary School in Frankfort for students to grow vegetables and flowers.
Brocksmith has overseen the agribusiness program at Vincennes University since 1993. She has added an Introduction to Precision Agriculture course to the program and a one-semester program for a Precision Ag Certificate.
The program has held several forums for students and the community to learn about marketing agricultural products.
Brocksmith also is an owner and operator of the 1,500-acre Knox County family farm, P.E. Brocksmith & Son Inc., co-owned by her husband, Mike, and two daughters, with the primary crops of corn, wheat and soybeans. The farm each year hosts two leadership groups, exposing them to farming and agribusiness. It also has hosted no-till field days, tours, a state soil judging contest and other gatherings.
Brocksmith serves on the local chamber of commerce board as a representative of Vincennes University and the agricultural community.
She has hosted the Young Farmers Discussion Meet at Vincennes University with the Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers since 2006.
As a member of the Knox County Ag Day committee, Brocksmith helps to coordinate agricultural education activities for more than 400 fifth-grade students from 10 schools.
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Source: Christa Holloway, 574-223 -3397, hollowac@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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