2018 Beale, Mike_007-5×7
Michael Beale was born in 1968 and raised on a farm in Carroll County, south of Delphi. He is the son of John & Betty Beale. He graduated from Delphi Community High School in 1986 and is a graduate of the Purdue Agricultural Short Course in Grain Operations and Animal Science. In 1988, he was the first person at Delphi schools to receive the American Farmer Degree, the highest FFA degree.
Mike married Jonella Beale in 1994 and they have two children, Brooke Beale and John Michael Beale, who are both actively involved in the farm operation.
Mike grew his farming operation from renting 10 acres in 1985 to now farming over 2,800 acres of corn, soybean, hay and silage. He also has around 75 cows and finishes 200-plus calves a year. Mike’s work ethic and management skills have been major factors in the continued growth of his farming operation.
Mike currently serves as the Chairman for the Carroll County Soil & Water Board, on which he has been a board member for 26 years and was an associate member since 1987. He is also the current Carroll County Farm Bureau President, and he became a member of back in 1997 when he helped re-establish the County Young Farmers program. He and his wife were District III Representatives of the Farm Bureau Indiana State Young Farmer Committee from 1997-1999, where he also served as the Vice Chairperson of the State Young Farmer Committee. In 1999, Mike and his wife were named recipients of the Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award at the annual Indiana Farm Bureau State Convention. Through Farm Bureau, he has also had the opportunity to lobby for farmers multiple times at the Indiana State House and in Washington DC.
Mike is also supportive of Carroll County ag youth programs. Along with being a 10 year 4-H member, he was a past 4-H leader to the county Junior Leader program and Tractor Driving project. He has also been an active 4-H parent helping at his children’ 4-H activities, including helping finish the Carroll County Young Wrangler announcer booth, setting up for the county fair, assisting with the Young Wrangler’s Annual Fish Fry, and helping out during the county fair week. He also served several years on the FFA Ag Advisory Board for Delphi Community High School.
In addition, he has volunteered at Ag Day since its inception, participates in the community Annual Christmas Food Basket project, and has hosted several legislators’ events in his toolshed.
When Mike is not at work or participating in various activities in the community, he can be found hanging out and fishing at his pond.
March 06, 2018 08:33 am |
