Hurdle After Hurdle: The Story of Yetter's Climb to Success

Apr 05, 2023

The late owner of Yetter Manufacturing, Pat Whalen, says it was a “natural progression,” the way that his grandfather first got the company off the ground and his grandparents were able to start the company in 1930 during the Great Depression.

“At the time, the tractors had steel wheels on them and they were prone to plug up with mud. Harry Yetter, my grandfather, came up with a device that would scrape the mud off,” Whalen says. “His neighbor saw it and it was one of those things that mushroomed from his farm to other farms.”

But that was just the very beginning for the family manufacturing business. Whalen recalls many other products that would be added into production over the coming years to help grow the company even more.

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Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.