 |
| Former
Indiana Corn Growers Association President Mike Aylesworth (left),
seen here in July, 2001, at Corn Congress in Washington, D.C.,
presents the President of the National Coalition for Food and
Agricultural Research Terry Wolf with a cigar, symbolizing the
birth of the Indiana corn checkoff. Aylesworth officially resigned
from his post with Indiana effective July 1. |
Aylesworth
Resigns from Indiana Corn (7-2-03)
July 1 was a sad day for
the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA) as Michael Aylesworth officially resigned
from his duties as Indiana chairman due to hardships brought on by
three consecutive years of drought. For Aylesworth, leaving Indiana
Corn was a necessary step.
"I'm no longer a producer,"
he said. "I had a farm sale Feb. 28, I sold all my farm equipment
and I think it was about a month later, I sold my farmland.
"I've been in the
business for 30-some years," the Hebron, Ind., NCGA member continued.
"One year of drought out of five is sort of normal, but two in
a row becomes a management problem, and three is unmanageable. It
just ate up all my equity, so before my wife and I had nothing left,
I decided to retire."
Also factoring into his
decision were his three sons, who are not farming with him. "I'm
60 years old and I'm out there by myself late at night, drying corn
and climbing around on stuff, I just think it was time to move on."
Aylesworth has been active
with ICGA for nearly 15 years and has been a strong leader for much
of that time. In addition to serving as chairman, he has held the
posts of treasurer, secretary and vice president. He also served NCGA
as member of the Research Committee from 1996-98 and was a member
of the Public Policy Action Team from 1997-2001.
Aylesworth said by far
his proudest moment with the organization was the enactment of Indiana's
checkoff program.
"I worked hard to
get the limited checkoff through the legislature which was a task
no one else had been able to do in the 20 years of Indiana Corn's
history," he said. "I'm going to miss all the relationships
I've built over the years in agriculture. From the people at the Farm
Bureau office near where our office was located to the state legislators
to the heads of departments at Purdue University...just a myriad of
folks."
Although Aylesworth will
no longer be affiliated with Indiana, that's not to say he will be
sitting idle. "I am the executive officer for the Porter County
Builders' Association," he said. "My job is to manage a
rather large and growing builders' organization in my county. It's
two-pronged: The first is political affairs and the second is association
management. They contacted me immediately after I sold my farm and
offered me the job."
Aylesworth said he hopes
there will come a time when he could work once again with the people
and the association that meant so much to him for so long.
"I would love to be
able to do some work with Indiana Corn...and retain my relationship
with them," he continued. "I left with a very happy relationship
with all the people onboard and it was very sad for all of us at the
board meeting when I had to resign."