The Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership and Policy Committee (M&P) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) presented its Friend of Farmer award to Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston, Ind.), who is retiring from service in Indiana’s General Assembly. Lehe is a farmer from White County, Ind., and he has served in the Indiana House of Representatives for 20 years.
Lehe and his wife, Kathy, live on Lehe Farms, Inc., and have two sons and two daughters. His eldest son, brother and nephew make up the four-person team that operates their corn, popcorn, soybean, hay and beef cattle farm full-time.
During his time as a legislator, Lehe chairedthe Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, sat on the Public Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and was the Vice Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, among others. His involvement with these committees helped Lehe to assist farmers with pro-ag legislation, though he insists those achievements were the results of many legislators and organizations working together.
“I’ve appreciated having the support and the impact of all of those organizations – corn, soy, pork, beef and all of the different commodity groups,” Lehe said. “It has been my pleasure to have a little bit of positive influence and help with the needs of those organizations. I’ve appreciated their help. I’ve appreciated their input; and what little bit I can do to help out, it was great to do that.”
The Friend of Farmer award was presented to Lehe by Smith, M&P Chair Matthew Chapman, a farmer from Springport, Ind., and Steve Howell, Senior Director of Industry Affairs for both M&P and ICGA. Howell said Lehe is understating his impact on Indiana’s farm policy.
“Rep. Lehe has been a solid, strong leader in the General Assembly primarily for ag and rural issues,” Howell said. “He’s a farmer, so that’s where his passion is. His district is a rural district. So, he obviously comes to Indianapolis and advocates for those constituents in his district. As chair of the ag committee, he was always a leader on agriculture issues and rural issues – advocating for Purdue and the agencies that have a connection to agriculture. He’s always been there for us.”
Lehe is among the few remaining legislators with farm experience in the Indiana General Assembly. He said, however, that Hoosier farmers shouldn’t worry. They will be well represented at the Statehouse.
“I know there are not a lot of farmers in the legislature,” Lehe admitted. “We all know thatthere aren’t many guys who go home on the weekend and jump on a tractor or get in the hog barn. But there’s a lot of support by a lot of ag-related industry folks in the legislature. They know the importance of agriculture and how it impacts the State of Indiana.”
He added that Gov. Eric Holcomb’s staff has been kind to agriculture, too. “We’ve also got a really good and strong administration that supports agriculture and knows the importance of agriculture to the state. I think it’s on a good path,” Lehe said.
Lehe serves as the General Assembly’s representative to both the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance. Howell explained that Lehe has been a strong advocate for the state’s checkoff organizations. “Again, he is just a solid leader for rural Indiana,” Howell said. “He was also key in getting the Indiana corn checkoff law passed back in 2006-07 time period. So, he’s just been a leader for both the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.”
Lehe is the fifth to earn the Friend of Farmer award. Previous winners include State Rep. Ed Soliday, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and State Sen. Jean Leising.
