BROCK SCHWENK, DISTRICT 1
Brock Schwenk is running for the District 1 director position. He was born and raised in Rochester and graduated from Rochester High School. He continued his education at Purdue University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in agriculture systems management. Schwenk is married to Tasha, and they have two children, Tommy and Brandt. They live on the family farmstead, which received the Centennial Farm Award in 2020.
Schwenk farms with his dad, Tom, in Richland township, where they grow corn and beans. He also sells crop insurance and operates a Becks Hybrid seed dealership. Outside of work, Schwenk is a member of several local boards, including Keystone Co-op and the FCREMC board, where he received his Certified Cooperative Director within his first year and a half of being on the board.
Schwenk attends St. Joseph Catholic Church, where he is the parish council financial officer. He enjoys vacationing with his family and spending time on the lake in his free time.
JARED LYNCH, DISTRICT 1
Jared Lynch is running to represent District 1. He is a lifelong Fulton County resident. He graduated from Rochester High School and then attended Purdue University Kokomo to study mechanical engineering technology. His family includes his wife, Dasha, and two children, Aiden and Camden.
Lynch has worked at Tecomet in Warsaw for the last 17 years as a machinist in the orthopedic industry. He also assists his parents, Ron and Greta Lynch, farming 250 acres in Richland and New Castle townships. Crops grown include wheat, corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. They also raise cattle for freezer beef, which they started for Lynch’s 4-H projects as a child. Last year, Lynch continued the same tradition for his sons to raise their 4-H projects. No-till farming and cover crops are important to their family and the environment.
Some of Lynch’s hobbies include farming, supporting his sons’ activities, and helping family and friends. It’s important to him to live and raise his children in this community. Lynch believes we must continue to look for ways to improve our way of life that are financially reasonable, environmentally responsible, and practicable.
DENNIS BURTON, DISTRICT 3
Dennis Burton represents District 3 on the Fulton County REMC board of directors and currently serves as the president. He also represents Fulton County REMC on the Wabash Valley Power Alliance Board of Directors and serves as chairman.
Burton and his wife Linda, a nurse at Woodlawn Hospital, have two sons, Scot and his wife Jenna, and Kevin and his wife Kimberly. They have seven grandchildren.
Burton lives in northwestern Rochester Township. He and his sons own a family farm partnership that grows corn, soybeans, and hay. They also have a small beef cow herd. The Burton family also provides custom farming services for area farmers.
Being an active member of the community is important to Burton. He is a member of the Whippoorwill Community Church, where he serves as a deacon, and he and his wife teach the junior-senior high school class. He has been a church trustee in the past. He is an active member of the Fulton County Farm Bureau Board and the Fulton County 4-H council. He has held officer positions of president and vice president on the 4-H council. On the REMC board, he has held the officer position of vice president and assistant treasurer. On the WVPA board, he has held officer positions of secretary and vice chairman.
Burton graduated from Rochester Community High School and the Purdue University Agricultural Short Course. He continues to take education courses to stay prepared to be an active, educated member of the REMC board. He has his Credentialed Director Certificate, Board Leadership Certificate, and Director Gold Certificate through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
One of Burton’s favorite activities is spending time with his family and being called “Grandpa.”
ROBERT “SKEETER” DAUGHERTY, DISTRICT 3
Robert “Skeeter” Daugherty is running to represent District 3. He was born in Plymouth, Indiana, and graduated from Argos High School and the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Daugherty’s family includes his wife, Michelle, and two children, Lauren (Ty) Adley and Taylor.
Daugherty is a retired Indiana law enforcement officer and worked for 15 years as a school resource officer. He owns a farm east of Rochester and rents out a few acres for hay. He also works part-time as a farm hand in the spring with tillage and in the fall with harvest.
Daugherty is currently the vice president of the Fulton County Historical Power Association, a project leader for 4-H, and an F.O.P. member. In the past, he has been on the school safety committee, crime stoppers, and Drug-Free Fulton County. Daugherty enjoys repairing and restoring antique farm tractors and attending antique tractor shows in his free time.
BLAIN HIZER, DISTRICT 5
Blain Hizer grew up on a family farm near Grass Creek, Indiana. His grandfather, Gerry Hizer, spent a great deal of time on the REMC board and told him many stories about his involvement with the REMC and the community. That is the primary reason Hizer seeks re-election. He sees this as an opportunity to continue giving back to his community.
Hizer graduated from Caston High School and then went on to Purdue University. He is proud to farm with his father, Scott Hizer, and uncle, Brett Hizer, on the family farm just outside of Grass Creek. They farm corn, soybeans, and hogs. Hizer is also the proud owner of Keller Advisory Group Inc. in Winamac with two other partners. He assists farmers with decision-making and marketing needs through careful and extensive research.
Hizer has a wife, Brittany, and three children Aspynn, Casynn, and Dawsynn, ages 6, 4, and 1. He wants to continue to be a role model to them and show it’s important to care for the area that has cared for them. The Hizers attend Revolution Church in Logansport. He is the president of the Farm Bureau Young Farmers and the creator and current board member on the John C. Keller Scholarship Board, as well as Secretary of Hizer Feed and Transit. Previously, he was the creator and president of Circus City Cornhole. Hizer’s hobbies include playing sports such as golf, basketball, and cornhole, but his favorite hobby is spending time with his family.
SETH WHITE, DISTRICT 5
Seth White is running to represent District 5. He is a lifelong Fulton County resident, graduating from Caston High School and Purdue University. White’s family includes his wife, Marla, and their four children, Eli, Isaac, Sam, and Jayne. He is a third-generation grain farmer with his dad and brother in Fulton, Cass, and Pulaski counties. White is currently the Fulton County surveyor and owns a private land surveying company.
White attends church at the Fulton – Pulaski Pastorate. He is also a member of the Grass Creek Lions Club, Fulton County Area Plan Committee, and Purdue Alumni. White enjoys coaching sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. He enjoys fishing, hunting, grilling/smoking meat, and, most importantly, watching Purdue basketball.
