Morris and Judy Lloyd honored with Ag Hall of Fame award

By Sharon Estep

Washington County farmers and agribusiness people enjoyed a dinner and award presentation at the 10th annual Ag Hall of Fame ceremony, Wednesday June 19. The Ag Hall of Fame award was started in 2014 by a group of individuals interested in promoting and honoring agriculture in Washington County. The group call themselves the SWAG Team (See What Ag Gives).

Members include Linda Baird, Mariah Blankenbaker, Beth Nicholson, Laura Purlee-Kiesler, Deidra Roell, and Danielle Walker. SWAG is supported by Washington County Farm Bureau Inc. Purdue Extension, and local farms and agribusinesses.

Their purpose is to publicly recognize and celebrate agriculture, cultivate an appreciation for agriculture and farmers to non-farm community members, create a farmer tradition at the Washington County Farmers Merchants Fair, and promote educational opportunities in agriculture for youth and adults at the Washington County Farmers Merchants Fair.

One of the ways the SWAG Team accomplishes these purposes is by having the Ag Hall of Fame Awards. Farmers and agribusiness people are nominated for the award by the public and past winners.

The SWAG Team tries its best to keep the award a surprise and this year's winners were definitely surprised. Morris and Judy Lloyd of Salem were announced as the first-ever “team” winners. “I was so surprised. I wasn't expecting it”, Judy chuckled.

The Lloyds have been dairy farmers for over 50 years. Judy said, “we've done it our whole lives.” Morris also worked for ABS (American Breeding Service) which left Judy and her daughter to do the milking, most of the time. “He would travel to several counties around the state, but mainly he worked in Washington, Scott, and Jackson Counties”, Judy mentioned. The Lloyds now raise beef cattle.