Profiles Volunteer John Smith has been a Farm Bureau member as long as he’s been a farmer. For 50 years, he and his brother, Don, have been partners in a 475-acre grain farm where they produce corn, soybeans and wheat. Until 1997, they milked registered Holsteins. Today they handle breeding heifers for two neighboring herds. He has been an active volunteer in Mercer County Farm Bureau’s membership campaigns. He is a 25-year volunteer and serves as co-chairman of this year’s campaign. He also has served on the county board of trustees. "I have to push myself to solicit (members), but I find there are more and more reasons to belong," he said. "It feels good to look over last year’s (membership) list to see the names I’ve signed on the list." He and his wife, Carolyn, are parents of four sons and have three grandchildren. They are members of the Tri Township Farmers advisory council. "We send in our opinions most every month on the things they ask," he said. He added that grassroots input is the basis of Farm Bureau. He also appreciates Farm Bureau’s power in the legislature, "like the recent tort reform bill" and the organization’s sharing of information about candidates in the last election. | |