WHITLEY COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - During Women's History Month, the Indiana Farm Bureau is spotlighting women in the agriculture industry across the state. 15 miles from Columbia City in northwest Whitley County, is where you will find Kelley Sheiss and her family's 1,000 acre farm. Sheiss grew up in the suburbs in Lancaster, Pennsylvania but always had an affinity for animals. "My option was to pursue a degree in animal science when I went to Penn State, and that opened a lot of doors and opportunities," said Sheiss. "It's also where I met my husband, and after we graduated, his family decided to relocate to Indiana to expand their farming operation." Sheiss helps run a second generation family farm operation. They have a farrow-to-finish hog operation and a cow-calf herd. Sheiss and her family also grow soybeans, corn, wheat and hay. "We run a fair to finish hog operation, which means we have sows from conception to consumption," Sheiss said. "We have the mama sows, the pigs we raise them for market. Then we also have a cow calf operation, so we raise calves for not only show, but also the market." Kelley Sheiss on her farm in Whitley County. Farming, policy, and advocating are some of her passions. Sheiss had held many positions in agriculture, including program director of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation's leadership program. She is also activity involved in both local and state agriculture organizations. "I've been able to work and be actively involved in the policy decision making process," Sheiss said. "That means we sit down as members every year and determine policy that's important to us and how it might affect our industry, and how we communicate with legislators on that." Former Iowa sheriff opens home to Indiana Tech women’s basketball team during blizzard Farm families represent only only 2% of the U.S. population, Sheiss believes educating the future generations on agriculture is vital. "I think any time we get a chance to tell our story that is so critically important," said Sheiss. "As our generations continue to age in agriculture, we lose farm ground. We have people that have choices, young people, and maybe not coming back into this profession. It's stressing the importance of not only agriculture as a cornerstone of Indiana's economy, but the nation's economy and all the opportunities that are there for people to be involved." Kelley Sheiss at the Indiana Statehouse with the Indiana Farm Bureau. For Sheiss, the best part of being in the agriculture industry, is being a provider for the community around her. "It's the ability to wake up every day and your full time job you get to be a caretaker of animals," said Sheiss. "Then that parlays into the second role, and that's providing a nutritious, delicious product for consumers and sharing with people that might be from the non ag community." As far as the future of the farm, her son Dylan recently graduated from Iowa State University. He has returned to the farm to work full-time growing show pigs and cattle. Sheiss encourages anyone who might want to get involved with agriculture, to reach out and seek mentors. ...read more read less