Over Mother’s Day weekend, this Indiana farmer had a little more to celebrate. Susan Brocksmith was voted the national winner of the 2017 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year program, sponsored by Monsanto.
The program honors the significant contributions farm moms make in their communities and beyond, and is designed to help some of the most outstanding farm moms make an even bigger difference in their communities. Brocksmith, a farmer, agribusiness professor, mother, and active agriculture advocate, garnered the most online votes to capture the national title.
Brocksmith was one of five women who were recognized at the end of April as regional winners in the program. All of them, including Becca Ferry (Brigham City, Utah), Shari Sell-Bakker (Dike, Iowa), Cala Tabb (Eupora, Mississippi), Nancy Kirkholm (Homer, Nebraska), and Brocksmith were selected by a panel of American Agri-Women and Monsanto judges for their dedication and commitment to their families, farms, communities, and the agriculture industry.
America voted online from April 28 through May 10 for one of the five regional winners to be named the national winner. All five women won $2,000 to direct to an eligible nonprofit organization of her choice in her community, as well as $3,000 for her personal use. Brocksmith will receive another $2,000 to direct to an eligible nonprofit for securing the most online votes to be named the national “America’s Farmers Mom of the Year.” She has decided to divide her $4,000 among three organizations: Helping His Hands, a local disaster relief organization and food pantry, and both the North Knox and South Knox FFA chapters.
“These women are truly the backbone of rural America, and we are so excited to share their stories and honor them for their great contributions,” said Jessica Lane Rommel, Monsanto’s Business Communications Manager. “Susan exudes so much passion for her family and community, and she is a great example of how women are making an impact on the agriculture industry at large. Through her work with Helping His Hands and FFA, she is making a difference in her community and inspiring all of us.”
Brocksmith was nominated for the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year program by her daughters Victoria and Casandra. In their nomination, they noted that she is a problem-solver on the family farm, an advocate of agriculture in the community, a role model for her daughters, and a professor who goes the extra mile for her students.
In addition to playing an active role on the family farm, Brocksmith serves on the county hospital board and is a church trustee. Additionally, she is an Agribusiness Professor and Department Chair at Vincennes University, where she holds some classes on the family farm and hosts meals with her students several times a year.
“I am humbled and blessed to be named the 2017 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year,” Brocksmith said. “I was raised on a family farm and was able to raise my daughters on our family farm. I have strived to instill the core values of faith, family, and agriculture into my daughters, as well as my college students. Thanks to the support I received from family, friends, and community, I was able to receive this award. This outpouring of support proves anything is possible. Thank you Monsanto for providing this outreach opportunity.”
