The Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame has announced the 2009 winners to be inducted at the seventh annual Ag Hall of Fame recognition banquet.  There are: Melvin Boecher, Jerry Layman, Lewis Rader, and Harry M. Steiner.  The public is invited to join in recognizing their accomplishments and to honor these inductees and their families.  Tricia (Kritzler) Sloma, morning news anchor for WNDU TV, South Bend, Ind. and occasional host on the national TV farm show, Ag Day, will give the keynote address. 

     Hall of Fame Committee chairman, Kerry Oberlitner, says, “The purpose of the county Agriculture Hall of Fame is to recognize outstanding agricultural contributions by Hardin County people.  We want to honor and to give public recognition to those who have brought distinction to themselves, have made outstanding contributions to their professions, and whose community involvement has served as a stimulus to others”.

• Lewis Rader taught agriculture at Dola and Dunkirk Schools, and taught at Hardin Northern High School until 1964.  As a purebred Hampshire swine breeder, he found great joy in helping young people get started in the swine business. Mr. Rader died in 2003.
• Jerry Layman began his agricultural career as the Hardin County 4-H Agent in 1970.  In 1973 he began teaching Vocational Agriculture at Kenton High School, and continued there until 1995.  He coordinated the Kenton Young Farmer program for 20 years.  Later, as principle at Hardin Northern Schools, he help oversee the construction of a new agriculture shop and classroom for the school.  Jerry currently operates a small farm, custom drainage business, and works part time with his brother Jan on a 3,500 acre grain farm. 
• Melvin Boecher was a farmer in McDonald Township.  He served as a director of the Hardin County Fairboard for 24 years, and gave oversight to the Community Building built there.  Mel served on the board of PCA and Ag Credit for nineteen years, helping assure farmers of a source of the credit needed to farm.  Mr. Boecher died in 2005.
• Harry M. Steiner began his farming career in 1927, and did custom threshing with his threshing machine and a small crew.  In 1933 he and his father-in-law started Guider-Steiner Implement Company where they sold Rumley, John Deere, and Allis Chalmers equipment. Mr. Steiner was a great supporter of 4-H and FFA and encouraged students to excel with their projects.  Mr. Steiner died in 1988.

            Tickets for the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet can be purchased in advance at the Hardin County Extension office (419-674-2297), or from the committee members: Don Heilman, Shane Kellogg, James M. Long, Robert McBride, Karl McNeal, Kerry Oberlitner, Paul Ralston, and Rex Sullinger.  The deadline for ticket sales is November 25th.