Three inducted into Ag Hall of Fame
by Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Wilbur O. Jones

The 2008 class of Carroll County Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees were announced during the Carroll County Pork Producers Annual Meeting and Banquet held March 10 at the 4-H Community Building in Flora. Recipients of the honor were Wilbur O. Jones, John Richard McCain and Samuel D. Moffitt.

Master of ceremonies was Dave Lambert. Invocation was given by Brad Burton before a pork meal served to attendees, catered by Parrett's Meat Processing & Catering.

A business meeting was held and reports were presented. Speakers included State Pork Producer Representative Michael Platt and Carroll County Agriculture Association board member Paul Marcellino.

Recipients of the 2007 Hog Slat Memorial Scholarships, Nicole Spesard and Nathan Trapp, both received $500. The 2008 scholarship winners are Kristina Barnard and Natalie Garrison, both seniors at Delphi Community High School.

Profiles of the hall of fame inductees follow:

Wilbur O. Jones

Wilbur O. Jones was born in Boone County and his family moved to Waugh and later to Rosston where his father had a chance to farm for the first time on his own.

John Richard McCain

Wilbur had a lifelong experience with tractors and his first lesson driving was on a Fordson tractor at the age of 9. Wilbur was an ace at tractors from an early age.

In 1936 Wilbur and his family moved to a 160-acre farm near Sheridan. That is where he met and married his wife Luella. The couple had six children: Patricia Jones (husband Bob), Dusty Davidson (husband Larry), Judy Listenburger (husband Mike), Rick Jones (wife Teena), Jack Jones (wife Betty), and Jeff Jones (wife Irenda).

In 1940 Wilbur was inducted into the U.S. Army in the Armored Division. He served until an illness forced him to be discharged.

Wilbur then worked for Delco-Remy as a parts man for John Deere in Lebanon and in an independent garage in Terhune.

Fortunately, for Carroll County farmers, Wilbur moved to Delphi in late 1949 and started working for Bassett & Talbert John Deere. On his first farm service call they sent him to Burrows via Adams Township. There he met Louis and Don Brubaker. Together they developed a dynamometer using a pony clutch system that checked horsepower within one-half horsepower accuracy of the one that was developed by Purdue University. The original dynamometer was belt driven and they later adapted it to a power-take-off system.

Samuel D. Moffitt

Wilbur is known throughout the community for being able to make about anything run. Once he converted a John Deere 60 gas tractor into a diesel. He would take parts from all makes of equipment to make them run. In the early 1960s he ran his own shop and had more work than he could handle because of his expertise in farm equipment. Bill Lee asked him to come to work for him at the John Deere store, Chittick-Jackson-Lee in Flora, known as JLP today. He was service manager from 1964 to 1984.

Wilbur was one of the founders of the Carroll County Antique Tractor & Machinery Club. He was the first to receive the Carroll County Tractor and Machinery Club Wall of Fame Award. In 2003 he received the Carroll County Heritage Award. In 1994 he was given the FFA Educator Award. In 1983 he was earned the Indiana State Farm Tractor Pulling title in the 4500-pound class. In 2000 he was given a certificate of appreciation for 50 years of service to the Camden Lions Club for their pulling contest.

Wilbur has also donated many hours to the Delphi Canal projects, restoring many structures.

Wilbur has helped farmers by keeping their machinery running with excellent service, knowledge and caring.

Samuel D. Moffitt

Sam Moffitt is a native of DeWitt, Iowa. Sam started raising hogs for 4-H in Iowa and raised Hampshire breeding stock in Iowa and after his family moved to Mineral Point, Wis., in 1972. In 1974 his family moved to South Whitley where he graduated from Whitko High School in 1976. He was a member of 4-H and FFA in Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana.

While at Whitko, he was active in FFA and was on the second place National Livestock Judging Team. Sam credits his ag teacher, Bill McVay, for challenging him and encouraging him to go to college. He graduated from Purdue University in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science. While at Purdue he was in Block and Bridle Club, a member of the Meats and Livestock judging team and was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity.

Sam went back to the family swine operation after graduation from Purdue. He moved to Carroll County in 1985 and started a career in feed sales for Carroll County Co-op.

Sam is currently Excel Co-op's Swine Production Manager and enjoys working with local pork producers in a dynamic and changing agricultural business. He enjoys working and serving the community through his efforts in 4-H and FFA and various organizations. Sam has been a 4-H leader for 17 years and serves on the 4-H swine committee, the Purdue CARET Council and is a past member of the Extension board. He is a board member for the Carroll County Agriculture Association formed in 2008.

Sam is a graduate of the Indiana Ag Leadership Program - Class IV. He now serves as secretary of the Purdue Farm House Fraternity Foundation. He has been active in the Pork Producers locally, statewide and nationally. He is a past president and currently the state director for Carroll County Pork Producers. He was named Outstanding Young Pork Producer in Indiana and has served on various committees for the Indiana Pork Producers and currently is on the Board of Directors. He has also been a delegate to the National Pork Board forum.

Sam enjoys pork production but understands the challenges the industry faces daily from economic, political and production issues along with public perception. He believes that producing food for the world is a very important profession.

Sam and his wife, Gail, were married last October. He has two children, Kelly, a sophomore and gymnast at Michigan State University in East Lansing, and Justin, a junior at Carroll Jr-Sr High School. He also has three step children: Kaleena White and husband Sean of Alexandria, Va.; Kaicey Stout, a senior at Purdue; and Cameron Stout, a sophomore at Purdue. Sam is a member of Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette and is attending Faith Church of Christ in Burlington.

John Richard McCain

Richard McCain was born and raised in Carroll County and has resided here all of his life except when he served in the military. After graduating from Flora High School in 1944, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He earned the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Award.

After serving his country, Richard came home to the family farm and began his farming career. In 1950 he met Joan Hannell and they were married. They moved to Madison Township and farmed with her father.

One of Richard's favorite activities was cooking pork chops at the various events with the Carroll County Pork Producers. He served as the Madison Township director for the Carroll County Pork Producers until 1990.

Richard is a charter member of the Carroll County Antique Tractor and Machinery Club and received the Wall of Fame Award.

Richard has served on the Burlington and Salin Bank boards for 15 years. He is also a member of the Flora American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite.

Richard also enjoys singing in church choirs. He has sung in church choruses in Delphi and Flora and in Flora's Easter Sunrise services for 28 years. He is a member of the Flora United Methodist Church.

Richard retired from farming in 1989; however, he still raises swine on the farm.

His hobbies include antique tractors, going to parades, plow days and various festivals.