Randy Woodson, Purdue's Dean of Agriculture, presents Sue Alexander of Winamac a handmade wooden clock after she was named the first Indiana Women in Agriculture award winner.
(Indiana AgriNews photo by Whitney Cole)

By Beth Forbes
Purdue Cooperative Extension

After a devastating farm accident, most families are happy just to keep the family farm afloat. However in the case of Indiana's first Women in Agriculture award winner, simply maintaining the operation was not enough.

Sue Alexander of Winamac was honored Aug. 16 at the Indiana State Fair for her important role in helping to run and expand the family farm after an accident paralyzed her husband, Tim, in 1993.

She was recognized by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and Indiana AgriNews, the sponsors of the award that was created to honor women who have excelled and played an important role in Indiana agriculture.

The Alexanders together manage 3,200 acres of farmland. At the time of the accident, the farm consisted of 1,800 acres when Tim was left a quadriplegic following a fall from the top of a grain bin.

Rather than quit farming, the Alexanders decided to continue the operation with Sue assuming many of the physical tasks that Tim could no