MENTONE – Corn, soybean and hog grower David Lash, Mentone, is one of 17 farmers honored at the Indiana State Fair this month. As Friday’s Farmer of the Day, Lash, 27, will meet with the fair board in the morning; interact with fairgoers in a talk at 2 p.m. in the Glass Barn and from the Dow AgroSciences booth in the Harvest Pavilion starting at 4 p.m.; and be featured in the parade at 6:30 p.m. He said he’s one of a variety of crop and livestock producers from throughout the state – mainly family farmers – picked to highlight the “Year of the Farmer” at the state fair. Lash, a fourth-generation farmer, manages Lash Farm Inc. in Mentone, where in addition to the crops he said they have a hog operation of “400 sows farrow-to-finish.” He manages the farm with his parents, John and Darlene Lash; sister, Sarah; wife, Kyla; and son, Tannon. He noted one important aspect of the operation is that “we try to be good stewards of the land we farm, utilizing practices including no-till, cover crops and variable rate inputs.” David is currently on the Kosciusko County Extension Board; was a 10-year 4-H member, showing swine at the state fair each year; and is the sixth-grade boys basketball coach at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School. He added he grew up on the farm but left for college, then decided to come back to it after graduating from Huntington University six years ago. “I love the opportunity to work with my family and manage our own business,” he said. “There are different challenges every day, I definitely enjoy it, and it’s a great way to raise a family.” The Indiana State Fair started Aug. 7 and runs to Aug. 23 at the State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis. The fair opens daily at 8 a.m. and admission is $12 at the gate.
