State Rep. Beau Baird is honored with 2026 Friend of Farmer award 

By Dave Blower Jr. 

State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Dist. 44), of Greencastle, Ind., was presented with the 2026 Friend of Farmer award at the Indiana Ag Policy Summit on July 30 by David Hardin, Chair of the Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Membership and Policy Committee (M&P) and Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Alan Dunn. 

The Friend of Farmer award is presented by ICGA and M&P to a policy leader who leads and advocates on issues that benefit Indiana farmers. 

Baird is the ninth winner of the award. Past winners include Baird’s father, U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-Dist. 4) who received the award in 2024. Other winners include former Purdue University Director of Agricultural Services and Regulations John Baugh, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney, State Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston, Ind.), State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenberg, Ind.), U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Dist. 2), State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso, Ind.) and U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.). 

Beau Baird and Jim Baird are the first father-son honorees of this award from M&P and ICGA. 

“This is just something that means a lot to me,” State Rep. Baird said. “Over the years, I’ve watched so many tremendous people receive this award. I would never consider myself in their caliber, so just to be a name within their ranks means more to me than I can express.” 

Courtney Kingery, CEO of ISA, ICGA and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC), and Sarah Simpson, Senior Director of Industry Affairs for M&P and ICGA, both said Baird’s advocacy for the soybean checkoff fallback bill which was adopted by Indiana’s General Assembly earlier this year. That law would replace the federal soybean checkoff law if Congress ever eliminated the program. 

Baird said he has seen the benefits of checkoff program. 

“Indiana Corn and Indiana Soybean are great participants and great voices for Indiana agriculture – not only here in Indiana but across the country and the world,” Baird said. “I just got back from Taiwan, and I got to see first-hand some of the soybeans that are being consumed over there. I know that it’s a direct result of the advocacy work that’s being done here at the state level from groups like ISA and ICMC.” 

ISA Board member Mark Legan, a farmer from Coatesville, Ind., supported Baird’s nomination for the award. 

“I have known Beau Baird since his days of showing 4-H animals at the Putnam County Fair,” Legan said. “Beau is a true friend of the farmer in the state legislature. He is always seeking to understand how policy issues affect agriculture. His willingness to carry legislation supporting Indiana producers is very much appreciated.” 

Baird is among the leaders of the Rural Caucus in the General Assembly, and he will continue to represent farmers and rural communities in the coming years. 

“Working with Indiana farmers, to me, is probably the highlight of my job,” Baird added. “As a state lawmaker, we work with so many different people across many issues. When Hoosier farmers come to the Statehouse, I know they’re there because they believe in what they do; they have a passion for their family farms and their communities and for the products they produce. To be able to help them do what they love to do means a lot to me.”