CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES
AGRINEWS PHOTO/JAMES HENRY
The Muegge family of Hancock County was recognized as the 27th Indiana Farm Family of the Year by AgriNews and Beck’s at the Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention in Fort Wayne.
Muegges named 2024 Farm Family of the Year
While agriculture continues to evolve, there are a few things that remain the same — the unity of our industry and the resilience of farm families.
and come together when it is needed most. They support each other, advocate for what they love and lift each other up.
Through every high and every low, farmers continue to work hard each day to make a difference in the lives of consumers across the world.
Farm families are the backbone of this industry. And with a faith that keeps them grounded, they remain hopeful in times of doubt, patient in times of frustration and generous to those in need.
When faced with adversity in this everchanging industry, farm families stand strong
Farm families are marketers, innovators and caretakers. But above all else they are
family. And that is the most important of all. As family-owned agricultural businesses, AgriNews and Beck’s believe in the importance of farm families. That is why 27 years ago our organizations came together to honor Indiana farm families for their contributions on and off the farm. We are excited to announce the 2024 Indiana Farm Family of the Year is the Muegge family of M5 Family Farms in Hancock County.
2 Friday, January 26, 2024 | CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES | www.agrinews-pubs.com
2024 Farm Family of the Year ‘just real’ By ERICA QUINLAN equinlan@shawmedia.com
CARTHAGE, Ind. — AgriNews and Beck’s are proud to announce the 2024 Indiana Farm Family of the Year — the Muegge family of M5 Family Farms in Hancock County. Bruce and Linda Muegge grow corn, soybeans, wheat and forages for their cattle, alongside their family: • Daughter Carli and husband John Hinton and children Kade, Krue and Karver. • Daughter Cari Barfield and fiancé Ben Ballard and children Beau, twins Rhett and Judd, and Sadie. • Son Chris and wife Jordan Muegge and newborn Raelyn, who joined the family on Jan. 12. • Bruce’s mother, Mary Muegge. “All the kids, in some respect, help on the farm,” Bruce said. “We’re trying to teach the grandkids about work ethic. Hopefully, one day they’ll look back and remember mamaw and papaw on the farm and they can pass that on to their kids.” The family members take pride in raising their cattle, maintaining a herd of strong, easy-calving cows, always improving bloodlines and weaning calves to be on pasture until the cattle are finished out on grain to produce tender cuts of meat. The family is all about keeping it real. “We’re not about gimmicks,” Linda said. “We’re just real. We feed our cattle hay. We don’t do any growth hormones. If the cattle are sick we give them antibiotics, or whatever the
Jordan Muegge helps on the family’s cattle farm. ting Horse Association. Linda has served several local chambers of commerce, as well as the Blue River Community Foundation and the Hancock Community Foundation. She also took great pride in serving on the board of Hope Center Indy, a recovery center for female victims of trafficking. On the farm, they host a beef seminar in the fall and Raelyn, the daughter of Chris a bull sale in the spring. and Jordan Muegge, was born In 2019, they added an onon Jan. 12. farm meat shop where peovet says they need to keep ple can purchase their beef. them healthy. “We care about our cat- JORDAN AND CHRIS Jordan helps Chris with tle. The same with our crops. We are cautious with photography, records and anything we use and every- marketing on the farm. thing we do. Integrity is ir- She’s always willing to help with the cattle. replaceable.” Chris is active in Farm The family is active in their community. Bruce Bureau, currently serving as and Linda have attended the Hancock County Farm Walnut Ridge Friends Bureau president. He also is Meeting for 20 years, where a member of the Indiana Beef Linda serves as a clerk and Cattle Association and voltrustee, and Bruce helps unteers with 4-H and FFA. Chris is an experienwith maintenance. ced ruminant nutritionist, Bruce served on the Hancock County Co-op Board working for Lowe’s Pellets prior to its consolidation & Grain in Greensburg. The family members are and on the Indiana Cutting very proactive in efficient Horse Association. Both are current mem- and effective feed use. See FAMILY, Page 3 bers of the National Cut-
www.agrinews-pubs.com | CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES | Friday, January 26, 2024
Family launches on-farm meat store By ERICA QUINLAN equinlan@shawmedia.com
CARTHAGE, Ind. — From farm to freezer, the beef from M5 Family Farms is known for being high quality. In 2017, the Muegge family launched an on-farm meat store. “We carry meat by the cut in our freezers at the store,” said Linda Muegge. “We also sell butcher beef, if someone wants a quarter, half or whole. “We started our own little farmers market once a month May-September — to bring in local meats and products from other farms within a 5- to 10-mile radius.”
M5 Family Farms has an onfarm meat shop. On the last Wednesday of the month, folks can shop for milk, chicken, pork, eggs and other fresh foods. Guests enjoy live, old-fashioned music while they shop and get to know their neighbors. The family also supplies
beef to Leo’s Market and Eatery. Those interested in buying meat at the on-store farm can learn more on Facebook. “We’re on Facebook at M5 Family Farms,” Muegge said. “They can message me on Facebook to order. We’re typically open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. But it’s pretty much appointment-based. I’m not busy enough to have someone out there all the time.” The farm is located at 3824 S. Binford Rd., Carthage. Muegge can be reached at lmuegge@myninestar.net or on Facebook.
Grandma Mary’s Coconut Crème Pie Mary Muegge is known for her delicious, homemade pies. She may be 92 years old, but that doesn’t stop her from making mouth-watering desserts at community events and the family’s annual bull sale. She shared her recipe for Coconut Crème Pie. Ingredients: 3/4 to 1 1/2 cup sweetened Grandma Mary is known for her flaked coconut homemade pies. 1/4 cup corn starch 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 9-inch baked pie crust 2 cups scalded half and For topping: half 3 stiff egg whites 3 slightly beaten egg yolks 6 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla
Procedure: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix corn starch, sugar and salt. Gradually add steaming hot milk. Cook in double boiler until thick — around 10 minutes — stirring constantly. Slowly add mixture with egg yolks. Stir into remaining hot mixture. Cook five minutes, stirring constantly. Add butter and vanilla. Let cool. Add a small amount of coconut to pudding. Pour into cool shell. Cover with whites and add coconut to taste. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
FAMILY
CARI AND BEN Cari is a fifth-grade teacher at Eastern Hancock. She has served Leadership Hancock County, the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Hancock County’s Women’s Fund. Alongside grandma Mary, she is known for being an excellent baker. She is engaged to fiancé Ben Ballard.
FROM PAGE 2
They make sure they have the dietary support the cattle need to keep them strong and healthy with a focus on proper marbling for high-quality beef cuts. CARLI AND JOHN Oldest daughter Carli and her friends developed Once Upon a Prom, a not-for-pr-
ofit to supply free prom dresses to girls in Indiana. Her husband, John, is a firefighter and professional farrier. His experience with forging and steel comes in very handy. He attended Black Hawk College, is a board member of the Indiana Farriers Association and speaks each year to the Passion Project class at Eastern Hancock to help kids understand what careers are available in agriculture.
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4 Friday, January 26, 2024 | CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES | www.agrinews-pubs.com Q&A: BRUCE AND LINDA MUEGGE
Meet the Muegges By ERICA QUINLAN equinlan@shawmedia.com
CARTHAGE, Ind. — Bruce and Linda Muegge lead their family farm with faith and a strong work ethic. They’ve worked hard to build the farm to what it is today — a successful corn, soybean, wheat and cattle operation with an on-farm meat store. They shared their story with AgriNews.
What are you up to on the farm this time of year? Bruce: I’ve been out in the shop working, getting things ready for the year. We’ve always got cattle work. We’re hauling hay and moving cattle around. We have our bull sale in March, so we’re preparing for that. We’re trying to get things cleaned up, as hard as that is to do in the mud. Linda: The animals require constant care. In some ways, they need more care in the winter than in the summer. It’s a revolving door.
What do you love about farming? Bruce: Mainly, the independence. Being out in the country. We don’t have to Do you enjoy working with answer to too many people, family on the farm? but ourselves. Bruce: Yes. That’s the best part of it. When What role does faith play you have all your family in your family and on your around. We try to make farm? work fun. A couple years Linda: I think faith plays a ago, we were all out in huge role in our family. We the cornfield. I was in the go to Walnut Ridge Friends combine, our son, Chris, Church and have for the was shelling corn, Kade, past 20 years or so. We my grandson, was pulling trust in God. If you’ve got the grain cart and my sonfaith and trust, it doesn’t in-law, John, was driving mean everything will be a semi. That was the first smooth sailing. But you time all of us, three genlearn, and everything hap- erations, were out there pens for a reason. A much together. It was a special bigger picture than just us. time. Bruce: It’s hard to farm Linda: The little ones if you don’t have faith of love to help on the farm. some sort. We have a second-grader
Cattle graze outside at M5 Family Farms in Carthage, Indiana.
and a third-grader. They are dying to work on the farm. They will carry little tablets and track what they do. They get so excited to turn their little time sheets in. They’ll call and ask if anyone is working on the farm today? We’ll find little jobs they can help with. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn, step by step, and to teach them responsibility.
2024
Any changes in store for 2024, acreage or in general? Bruce: We’re always looking to improve things. As far as acreage, I don’t know that we’ll have any changes this spring. We’re always looking to be more efficient. Why is it important to be involved in the community and ag industry? Linda: I think it’s our duty to reach out and be a part of your community. We’ve tried to instill that in our kids. You want to give back. You want to help. Do what you can. At different stages, everyone is involved as much as they can. I think it’s important to share what agriculture is. See MUEGGES, Page 5
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MUEGGES FROM PAGE 4
Bruce: Whatever you give, whether it’s time, effort, or money, it will always come back to you. It may not be today or tomorrow. It may not be your generation. But if you give and do good things, it will come back around. What do you hope for the future of your family farm? Bruce: I would hope the kids can keep it together. I know it’s a hard thing to do. We worked hard to get what we have. I’d hate to see it a housing addition or something like that. I’d love to see it held together for at least two or three generations. Linda: That’s why we try to let the grandkids experience it. Let them see it and learn it. Tell me about your involvement at church. Linda: I’ve served as a clerk for a couple of years. It’s just a little country church about
AgriNews Editor James Henry (from left) presents the 2024 Indiana Farm Family of the Year award to the Muegge family: Bruce, Kade, Mary, Cari, Sadie, Linda, Jordan, Rhett, Chris, Judd, Krue, Beau, Karver, Carli and John. three miles from us. It’s a small church, but they do amazing things. They provide the meals we do for the bull sales in the spring and fall. The money from that goes to mission work.
Bruce: The church started in the early 1800s. The building has a lot of history. Anything else you’d like to mention?
Linda: We want to thank the people who nominated us for the Farm Family of the Year award. We were surprised that we won. We’re kind of low-key people, so this is new to us.
Bruce: We have a great family and a great community. We have awesome neighbors. That makes everything easier. That’s something I love about farm life.
CONGRATULATIONS
M5 FAMILY FARMS AND THE MUEGGE FAMILY
2024 INDIANA FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR
Southeastern Indiana’s Leading Independent Feed Manufacturer & Grain Elevator 2372 W State Road 46 Greensburg, IN 47240 SM-LA2135168
6 Friday, January 26, 2024 | CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES | www.agrinews-pubs.com
Free dresses at Once Upon a Prom By ERICA QUINLAN equinlan@shawmedia.com
Once Upon a Prom is a not-for-profit organization that supplies free prom dresses to any student in Indiana. available from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 3. Open shopping will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 3 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 4. The event is open to any high school student regardless of financial status. School ID or proof of enroll-
ment is required. Each student can receive one free formal dress, accessory item and pair of shoes. Donations are welcomed and appreciated. To learn more, visit sites. google.com/view/onceuponaprom.
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GREENFIELD, Ind. — Carli Hinton came up with the idea for “Once Upon a Prom” with her friends in 2019. Since then, the nonprofit has grown into a large, statewide event. Their mission is simple: to provide high school-aged girls with prom dresses and accessories at no cost. They believe every young lady should have the opportunity to feel beautiful on prom night, regardless of their financial limitations. In 2023, the group welcomed 308 shoppers and gave away 266 free dresses. Students from 48 schools across the state participated. This year’s giveaway will take place Feb. 3-4 at Overlook at Briney Creek, 687 South 400 East, Greenfield. Appointment slots are
www.agrinews-pubs.com | CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES | Friday, January 26, 2024
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Hope Center Indy: Advocating for victims of human trafficking By ERICA QUINLAN equinlan@shawmedia.com INDIANAPOLIS — Human trafficking is not just a problem in other countries. It’s happening right here, in communities across Indiana. Linda Muegge, Indiana Farm Family of the Year award winner, is an advocate for the men, women and children affected by human trafficking. She served on the board of the Hope Center Indy for five years. Hope Center is a recovery center for female traffic victims. Muegge continues to advocate for the program. “They started out with a desire to help women recover,” she said. “A lot of these people have been trafficked from the time they were 2 or 3 years old. It’s not just a story of being grabbed or taken. “There are situations were brothers, sisters, uncles, moth-
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ers, dads are harming these kids. I was taught that from wherever you sit, within your ZIP code somebody is going through this.” Imagine trying to adjust to life after a traumatic experience, Muegge urged. “They’re lost in this world,” she said. “They don’t have a high school diploma. They may not have a Social Security card or driver’s license. So, when people say ‘Go to work and get a real job.’ How? A lot of them have no education. The Hope Center helps them.” Whether it’s assistance finishing high school, finding drug recovery aid, vocational training, or other forms of help — the center offers an array of options. CARE In 2023, the center offered comprehensive care to 115 survivors in search of safety and restoration from across the United States.
K-9 TRAINING CENTER In partnership with Jordan Detection K-9, the Hope Center’s barn serves to train electronic scent detection dogs to assist in identifying potential child victims of sex trafficking and abuse. In 2023, there were 556 search warrants conducted by K-9s trained at Hope Center Indy, resulting in 377 arrests and the identification of 152 survivors. FOOD PANTRY The David Nolen Pantry of Hope has seen significant growth since it first opened in 2020, when it served 30 families each week. In 2023, 280 families were served weekly. This added up to about 3 million pounds of food given to people in need. BUSINESSES There are also three businesses associated with the organization: the Redefined Hope Boutique, Freedom Barn, and Redefined
Volunteers work in garden area at Hope Center Indy. Roots Garden and Greenhouse. They provide vocational skills and employment to residents and raise money for programs. The boutique is a one-stop shop for all things fashion and coffee. All proceeds benefit the Hope Center. The Freedom Barn is a historic 5,000-square-foot space designed
for weddings, corporate events, private events, ministry functions and more. The Redefined Roots Garden and Greenhouse offers plants and gardening products for sale to support the mission of the Hope Center. Learn more at www.hopecenterindy.org.
8 Friday, January 26, 2024 | CELEBRATING FARM FAMILIES | www.agrinews-pubs.com
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 INDIANA FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR
THE MUEGGE FAMILY OF HANCOCK COUNTY | M5 FAMILY FARMS INC. “Family farms are vital to the agriculture industry but are also an integral component to rural communities. This award recognizes a family who strives to serve both.”
2024 DEFENDER CLASS-LEADING TORQUE, QUIETER ROTAX ENGINES
– Scott Beck | President of Beck’s
PAST RECIPIENTS 1998 — The Kohlhagen Family of Jasper County 1999 — The Walker Family of Blackford County 2000 — The Bontrager Family of Elkhart County 2001 — The Stinson Family of Clinton County 2002 — The Ambriole Family of Huntington County 2003 — The Schlatter Family of Allen County 2004 — The Johnson Family of Orange County 2005 — The Perkins Family of LaGrange County 2006 — The Bell Family of Wayne County 2007 — The Leininger Family of St. Joseph County 2008 — The Ring Family of Dubois County 2009 — The Minich-May Family of Carroll County 2010 — The Mohler Family of Clinton County 2011 — The Coy Family of Decatur County 2012 — The Hayden Family of Lake County 2013 — The Baird Family of Washington County 2014 — The Duttlinger Family of Jasper County 2015 — The Hadley Family of Allen County
Built extra tough to take you way beyond the daily grind. On worksites, hunting trips, in the agribusiness & anywhere you need it gets the job done right.
2016 — The Clauson Family of Fulton County 2017 — The Miller Family of DeKalb County 2018 — The Ramsey Family of Shelby County 2019 — The Wenning Family of Decatur County 2020 — The Everett Family of Boone County 2021 — The Stephenson Family of Johnson County 2022 — The Schenk Family of Posey County 2023 — The Hamilton Family of Vigo County
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