2016 David Minich
Dave is a lifelong Carroll County resident born to Ernie and Betty Minich. He is a 1964 graduate of Carroll High School and 1968 graduate of Purdue University majoring in Ag Economics. In 1967 he married fellow student Marilyn Hodgen. Upon graduation the couple moved to Carroll County where Dave rented his first 160 acres to begin his own farming career by raising corn and soybeans, starting a small farrow to finish hog operation, and small cow-calf herd. He rented equipment from his father until Minich Farms, Inc. was formed in 1969. Dave’s work ethic, attention to details, and management skills have been major factors in the continued growth of the farming operation. His love of God and family, agriculture, and the people he works with is what Dave’s life is all about. The couple has been blessed by three children and six grandchildren. Son, Mark, is a software engineer; daughter, Angie, is co-manager of Minich-May Farms; son, Robb is an attorney.
Dave was a 4-H Tractor Maintenance leader for eight years. By serving as mentor for numerous local high school students through the Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) Program, Dave enjoys the opportunity to interact and encourage young people to consider agriculture as a career path. He has been willing to share his farm management and planning skills as a visiting lecturer for Purdue ag econ classes. He served on the Carroll County Farm Bureau Board of Directors as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District. Throughout his lifetime Dave has successfully taken on major responsibilities and leadership roles in the family’s church.
Dave has always been a very optimistic and progressive farmer, planning for the future to be able to adapt to change. When Angie and her husband, Steve May, made the decision to move into full-time farming, the operation was positioned to welcome the next generation. In 2006 a new office and shop complex was completed. It includes expanded grain storage facilities and equipment storage buildings.
In 2000 Dave was honored as a Master Farmer at the Indiana State Fair by Prairie Farmer magazine. In 2008 he was named as national Top Producer of the Year by Farm Journal Publications and recognized by the Indiana General Assembly as “one of the top farm managers in the nation”. In 2009 Minich-May Farms was named Farm Family of the year by Beck Hybrids and Indiana AgriNews. Our entire family looks forward to many more good years of being a part of the Carroll County farming community.
March 02, 2016
