Don Villwock, Indiana Farm Bureau president since 2002, last week announced that he plans to retire at the end of this year.
Villwock, of Edwardsport, announced his decision in a letter to county presidents last week. In addition to serving as leader of Indiana Farm Bureau, he is also the president of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.
The Knox County resident served in many capacities with Farm Bureau prior to his election as president, including vice president, District 7 director, Knox County president, State Young Farmer Committee chairman and Feed Grains Committee chairman. He has served on the Farm Bill Task Force and the Farm Credit Task Force.
At the national level, Villwock is a member of the American Farm Bureau board of directors and a member of the executive committee. He is the national vice president of the Farm Bureau Bank, American Agricultural Insurance Co. and AFBIS.
In January 2004, he was appointed to the AFBF trade advisory committee. In June 2003, he was elected chairman of the board of trustees of the Farm Foundation. He is a member of the 25 x 25 Ag Energy working group, a national task force promoting the use of renewable fuels. He was also a finalist in the national Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet, was elected national chairman of the Young Farmer/Rancher committee, and in that role served on the AFBF board of directors.
A 1972 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in agricultural economics, Villwock was appointed by President Bush to serve as state executive director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service from 1989 to 1993. He also served as state agricultural liaison for U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar. Villwock was appointed to the national Commission on 21st Century Production Agriculture in 1997.
Villwock has been involved with the Indiana Corn Growers, Indiana Soybean Growers, and the Indiana Pork Producers. He has also served as chairman of the Indiana Institute of Agriculture.
His farming operation produces white corn, soybeans, seed soybeans and seed wheat.
Don and his wife, Joyce, have two married daughters.