Elizabeth Bechdol

Undergraduate School
Bachelor of Science in International Politics, Georgetown University
Graduated in 1994

Graduate School
Masters of Science, Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
Graduated in 1996

Professional Experience:
Beth Bechdol serves as Ice Miller's director of agribusiness strategies and is responsible for assisting and coordinating the Firm's Agricultural Law Initiative.

Bechdol was the former deputy director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). Prior to that, she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Senate Agriculture Committee.

As the deputy director of the first-ever Indiana State Department of Agriculture, she had an integral role in establishing the agency and crafting the strategic plan for Indiana agriculture put forward by Governor Mitch Daniels. She was directly involved in ISDA’s international trade and investment activities, participating in Governor Daniels’ four trade missions and coordinating Lt. Governor Becky Skillman’s two agricultural trade missions.

Her dedication to public service in agriculture and her extensive trade and farm policy experience extends beyond this role in Indiana to Washington, D.C. where she served in key roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and on the Senate Agriculture Committee under Indiana Senator Richard G. Lugar.

Bechdol began her career working with large agribusiness companies in the Washington office of Sparks Companies, Inc. (now Informa Economics), one of the nation’s leading agricultural consulting firms. As a vice president in the firm, she assisted clients in understanding critical agricultural issues such as biotechnology, changing farm structure, global trade, federal farm policy, risk management tools, among other major trends.

Bechdol received her bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in international law and international affairs. She completed her master's degree at Purdue University in agricultural economics. She was raised on a corn and soybean farm in Auburn, Indiana.

Beth Bechdol is not licensed to practice law in any state and does not provide legal services.

Professional Associations:
President, Agribusiness Council of Indiana (IN Grain and Feed Association and IN Plant Food and Agricultural Chemical Association)
Member, National Grain and Feed Association Board of Directors
Member, American Agricultural Law Association
Member, The American Agricultural Economics Association
Member, Farm Foundation Bennett Roundtable; Steering Committee Member, 2011-present
Member, Purdue University Dean of Agriculture's Advisory Council, 2007-2009
Member, Ivy Tech-Lafayette Agricultural Advisory Committee

Awards and Recognitions:
"Purdue's 40 Under 40", Purdue Alumni Association, 2010
"Forty Under 40," Indianapolis Business Journal, 2010
Purdue University College of Agriculture Distinguished Agricultural Alumni, 2009
Participant, Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business and Wells Fargo Bank Midwest Food and Agribusiness Executive Seminar, 2008 and 2010
Gamma Sigma Delta (The Honor Society of Agriculture, Consumer and Family Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine) Alumni Membership Award, 2008
Purdue University Outstanding Women in Agriculture Leadership Award, 2008
Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics APEX Award, 2008
Indiana Commission for Women's Torchbearer Award for Agriculture, 2008
Finalist (Government), Indy’s Best and Brightest (professionals under age of 40), 2007
Recipient of the Distinguished Hoosier Award, 2007

Published In:
Quoted in "Ongoing Challenge to Growers: Boost Per Acre Yields Even More," Delta Farm Press, April 1, 2011
Authored "Is Agriculture Ready to Meet the 21st Century Challenge?," Nebraska Pork Talk, Winter 2010
Authored "Forces Affecting Change in Crop Production Agriculture," Choices Magazine, February 2011
Quoted in "Indiana Leaders Challenge FFA Members to Engage in Ag Issues," Hoosier Ag Today, Oct. 21, 2010

Speaking Engagements:
"Food and Agriculture Policy - What Is It and What Should It Look Like?," National FFA New Century Farmer Program, July 27, 2011
"A Look Inside the Beltway... Agriculture's Policy and Political Future," Farmers and Merchants Bank Breakfast Meeting, February 25, 2011
"Agriculture - Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century," 2011 Nebraska Pork Industry Day, February 23, 2011
"A Look Inside the Beltway... Agriculture's Policy and Political Future," Kennedy and Coe, LLC Agribusiness Retreat, Feb. 9, 2011
"It Takes More than a Garden", Central States Enterprises, July 7, 2010
"New Policy and Tax Directions for Agribusiness," Ice Miller/Crowe Horwath Webinar, Aug. 20, 2009
"Today's Political Landscape - Impacts on Agriculture," DeKalb County Community Foundation Agriculture Breakfast, March 12, 2009
"Agriculture's Age of Uncertainty - Markets vs. Politics," Wells Fargo Bank Ag Seminar (Northeastern Indiana), Feb. 17, 2009
"Agricultural Trade - Long-Term Market and Policy Prospects," Purdue Women in Agriculture Conference, Feb. 5, 2009
"The 2008 Farm Bill - Policy Perspectives - What's Next?" American Agricultural Law Association 29th Annual Symposium, Oct. 25, 2008
"What's Ahead for Agriculture? One View...," Purdue Women in Agriculture Stakeholder Luncheon, June 11, 2008
Panelist, “Future Trends in the Food Industry and the Impact it Will Have on Food Banking,” Community Harvest Food Bank Board Education Panel, Oct. 9, 2007
Featured Speaker at DePauw Discourse, “The Truth About Sustainable Agriculture,” DePauw University, Oct. 5, 2007
“Economic Development's Opportunities in Indiana Agriculture,” Indiana Economic Development Corporation Development Council Basic Training, Jan. 9, 2007
“Indiana Agriculture – The Year Behind and the Year Ahead,” Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference, March 15-16, 2006
Various County and Regional Economic Development Meetings and Seminars, May 2005 – November 2007
Various Agricultural Industry and Association Meetings to Discuss Status of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Activities and Programs, Federal Agricultural Policy Issues and Trends and International Market Opportunities for Indiana Agriculture, May 2005 - November 2007
Various Purdue University College of Agriculture Undergraduate Courses, May 2005 - November 2007
Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s 10-Event Statewide Roll-Out of Strategic Plan for Agriculture, “Possibilities Unbound: The Plan for 2025,” May 2005

Community Involvement:
Member, National FFA Sponsors' Board, 2010
Director, Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast IN, Inc., 2009-Present
Director, Purdue Research Foundation, 2009 - Present
Member, Indiana Humanities Council "Food for Thought" Advisory Council, 2010; Member, DeKalb County Extension Board, 2010
Member, Center for Food Integrity Issues Management Team, 2010
Vice President, Board of Directors, Indiana Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 2008 – 2010, and Fundraising Coordinator for the Center of Excellence Gala, 2006-2008
Agriculture Coalition Leader, Campaign to Re-elect Governor Mitch Daniels, 2008
Participant in Mickey's Camp for Women, 2007 and 2008
Alumna, Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series
Member, Garrett United Methodist Church
Volunteer, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Alumni Member, Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Fraternity, Georgetown University

Services:

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