MANSFIELD â An innovative and influential farmer near Mansfield has been named the 2020 News-Gazette Farm Leader.
Ken Dalenberg has traveled the world through his work on international soybean organizations and has been an early adopter for the current wave of precision ag equipment, helping test products and tech for everyone from top manufacturers to California startups.
Heâs also helped countless researchers at the University of Illinois, running different trials on the farm heâs expanded since graduating from the UI in the 1970s.
âHeâs very serious about what he does,â Former University of Illinois President and dean of its College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Bob Easter said. âNot only is Ken focused on ⦠his farming operation and how to make it successful, heâs also very supportive of, engaged in and willing to take time to work on issues of importance to the broader agricultural community.â
Courtesy Jim Beaty
2 LEADERS IN OVER 70 YEARS: Until Jim Beaty (left) retired recently, only he and the late Ozzie Luetkemeier (right) had served as superintendents at the Purdue Agronomy Farm. Purdue’s Jim Beaty reflects on changes as he retires as Agronomy Farm superintendent.
The Purdue University Agronomy Center for Recreation and Education has had three name changes but only two superintendents since it was established as the Purdue University Agronomy Farm in 1949. The late Ozzie Luetkemeier was the first superintendent, and he handed the torch to Jim Beaty in 1986. Beaty held the post until he retired at the beginning of 2021.