STAR AFFILIATES: Indiana STAR

Indiana STAR is developing as a grassroots movement as several Indiana SWCDs have been using the Illinois STAR field form with their farmers and are serving as Indiana STAR Navigators through agreements with Illinois STAR. Indiana farmers have also been eager to use the STAR Tool to apply for the Siemer STAR Producer Rewards Payment Program which is available to growers across Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. IN STAR does yet have an official Affiliate entity, although the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts has been an enthusiastic voice in helping to develop STAR in Indiana. To support Indiana producers and STAR Navigators, national STAR has brought on an IN STAR Coordinator, Billy Pigg.

The Indiana STAR Steering & Science Committees, with broad representation from agricultural stakeholders and experts, are moving ahead to create Indiana-specific field forms and Conservation Innovation Plans for the 2025 crop year to be launched in June 2025.

IN STAR Steering Committee members include:

• Meg Leader, Resilient Indiana Director | Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
• Amanda Kautz, State Soil Health Specialist | Indiana NRCS
• Eric Shideler, Executive Director | Vermillion County SWCD
• Sara Campfield, Executive Director | Putnam County SWCD
• Erica Eason, Conservation Resource Specialist | Monroe County SWCD
• Lisa MacPhee, Director/Treasurer | Morgan County SWCD
• Dawn Schuman, Indiana Grain Merchandiser | Siemer Milling
• Sarah Reilly, White River Project Director | The Nature Conservancy
• Breegan Andersen, Deputy Director of Soil Conservation | Indiana State Department of Ag
• Abby Horlacher, CCA  | Nickel Plate Consulting
• Audrey Kaul, Value Chain Professional | IU Environmental Institute

Billy Pigg grew up in Veedersburg, IN where him and his family raised a small herd of pigs. He went on to graduate from Manchester University with a degree in Environmental Studies. Post graduation, he began working in the Ag Retail sector in Indiana and Kansas. He assisted producers on applying dry fertilizer and liquid herbicide in row crop acres. He then spent time with Vermillion/Parke SWCDs, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and USDA-NRCS. He expanded his knowledge of the conservation sector and enjoyed working with stakeholders to better improve their properties. He has been a part of several watershed studies testing the effectiveness of implementing best management practices onto the land and looks forward to using that to help growers improve their operations while also benefiting the environment around them.