Barn and Business Panel Talks Opportunities in Ag
Published: Friday, March 20, 2026
Farmers, business leaders and community members of Kosciusko County made their way to the Rodeheaver Auditorium on the morning of March 10 for the 12th annual Barn and Business Breakfast. Hosted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, this year's conversation focused on the future of agriculture in Kosciusko County.
The event opened with an invocation by Nate Bosch, director of the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams.
Rob Parker, president of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, moderated the panel discussion. Three local businessmen joined the panel, including: Steve Miller, the general manager of Creighton Brothers, which was recently acquired by Cal-Maine Foods; Tyler Bouse, a hog farmer and employee of an international seed company; and Zach Tucker, director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility for Maple Leaf Farms.
The panelists discussed what might happen in agriculture in the next 10 to 20 years. Tucker mentioned increasing consolidation. Miller agreed, stating that many companies have consolidated or closed their doors in recent years due to the bird flu, regulatory complexities and shifts in supply and demand. One way to offset these losses, he said, is to focus on the value-added side of a product.
"The egg itself, you have to take at whatever price it is. It's the things you can do with that egg, that's where you can . . . try to maximize in that area."
Bouse spoke about the current challenges in hog farming. The costs of utilities, taxes, labor and building materials have all increased. However, he said the lending market has recently improved, offering more opportunities for farmers.
Even with all of the challenges they face in the industry, Bouse, Miller and Tucker remain optimistic. Bouse stated that "the love of the industry" keeps him going, and he is encouraged by the county's support of agriculture through 4-H and FFA programs that get young people engaged.
"You just can't shake it," Miller added, speaking of the "bug" for agriculture. "To watch the younger people come in, and be able to train them up and get that love and passion for agriculture—that's what keeps you moving forward."
Tucker discussed the "horizontal expansion" that's possible in agricultural industries as producers work together. This collaboration helps everyone save in costs. He announced that Maple Leaf Farms is currently setting up AgWorx, a counterpart to OrthoWorx in Warsaw.
The goal of Agworx, he said, is to create "a more cohesive group here in this county."
"How can we get more recognition for what we do in the agriculture space?" he asked. "Orthopedics has certainly gotten the top spot here. I feel like agriculture has kind of been forgotten about. I think ag needs more emphasis, more support. So we're figuring out what that's going to look like in the future."
Parker asked the panelists about the role of technology in agriculture.
"We got big, new, shiny green equipment three years ago to help draw in that younger crowd," Miller joked.
He went on to explain that the work farmers do is data-driven in order to maximize yield, and technology supplies that data. Technology also makes jobs easier for people in production.
"Our main priority," stated Miller, "is to use the technology out there to make sure that we can do the best job we can and be the most efficient."
"Energy efficiency is a big part," Bouse agreed. "Just the way you would manage your home, we manage the animal facilities."
This careful management helps Bouse maintain animal health and biosecurity, which are critical in the meat industry.
"Automation sometimes gets a bad rap," Tucker added. But with automation, "your product is far more consistent, which is what the customer wants."
Furthermore, he said that automation protects against repetitive motion injuries that employees in processing plants might experience.
"With automation, you get to take individuals away from a potentially debilitating position."
Parker questioned the panelists about the skill sets needed for aspiring agricultural workers. Bouse, Tucker and Miller stated that young people need a strong work ethic, willingness to meet challenges, people skills and knowledge of data analytics.
The panelists also discussed data centers.
"We're all so data-driven that these places have to go somewhere," Miller said. However, he stated that there's misinformation about data centers and they need to "shift their story to be more up front about what's going on."
Miller concluded, saying, "We need to find a way to work together and be in the same area."
Bouse and Tucker agreed; data centers are necessary but need better marketing.
Parker concluded the panel discussion by asking the participants to describe the future of agriculture in Kosciusko County. Miller said, "Bright." Tucker chose the word "collaborative" and Bouse said "positive."
"We can all lift each other up," said Tucker.
The breakfast ended with lively table discussions. Attendees answered questions such as "What keeps you invested in this county?" and "What's the biggest opportunity for growth in your industry or sector right now?"
FFA members assisted with the event, and the proceeds went to support local FFA chapters. Sponsors of the event included Creighton Bros., Grace College, Maple Leaf Farms, Kosciusko County Farm Bureau, Kosciusko County Community Foundation and Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
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