Carroll County Ag Association was among five "Beyond the Fence" award winners honored for outstanding support and promotion of Indiana's livestock industry in 2008. The awards, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), were presented at the Indiana Livestock Forum held in Indianapolis on Dec. 18.

Pork Producer Mike Beard and chairman of ISA's soybean demand committee said ISA sponsors the livestock awards and livestock education programs because livestock production is critical to Indiana soybean farmers.

The CCAA won for its outstanding farm-city relations. Other award winners were: Senator Beverly Gard, Hancock County, for Outstanding Public Official; Ken Perkins, Farmers First Bank & Trust, for Outstanding Industry Support; Malcolm Dekryger, Belstra Milling, Jasper County, for Outstanding Community Involvement & Neighbor Relations by a Livestock Producer; and Greg Slipher, Indiana Farm Bureau, for Outstanding Organization Support.

"Soybean farmers need a strong livestock industry because 98 percent of our soybean meal is fed to livestock," said Beard. "Recognizing those individuals and organizations that support the responsible development of Indiana livestock is part of ISA's livestock education program.