As owner and operator of Friend Farms and President of Green Acres Ham LLC, Representative Friend is a strong advocate for advancing rural communities across the State of Indiana. Throughout his career at the Statehouse, he has served on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Natural Resources Committee, Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation, and the Committee on Joint Rules. He also served on the House Ways and Means Committee from 1994-2002.

During the 2005 session, Representative Friend authored legislation that collected money from Indiana's cigarette tax to be dedicated to the Clean Water Fund within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget. The Clean Water program will ensure productivity of Indiana soil and reduce the cost to taxpayers for cleaning ditches and waterways, which will ensure clean drinking water. Thanks to Representative Friend's leadership, this money will fund a popular program that has never been properly funded.

Representative Friend has also been a leading advocate for alternative energy by authoring and sponsoring legislation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Representative Friend's energy initiatives provide tax incentives for the production and use of alternative fuels. These initiatives will also help move Indiana forward economically by using some of the state's most abundant resources; corn and soybeans.

Outside of the Statehouse, Representative Friend contributes a significant amount of time to his community. He has served as the Allen Township Trustee and Assessor, Miami County Auditor, Vice President of the Miami County Council, Peru-Miami County Economic Development Corporation, Grissom Redevelopment Authority Treasurer, and Solid Waste District Fiscal Officer.

Representative Friend is a 1967 graduate of North Miami High School and 1971 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, receiving a B.A. in Biology. He currently resides in Macy, Indiana with his wife, Ann. They have three children; Chris, Mandy and Daniel, and two grandchildren; William and Sara Ann. Representative Friend also attends Mexico Baptist Church, where he has been a Sunday School Teacher for 17 years.

Indiana House of Representatives- 1992 - present

District 23- Indiana House District 23 is located in north-central Indiana. This district includes portions of Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall and Miami Counties.

Committees-

Agriculture and Rural Development

Address- 3340 W 900 N, Macy, Indiana 46951

Telephone-

1-800-382-9841 (During Session)

1-765-985-3885 (Outside of Session)

Occupation-

Owner/Operator, Friend Farms

President of Green Acres Ham, LLC

Education-

1967 graduate of North Miami High School

Received a B.A. in Biology from the University of Indianapolis in 1971

Civic & Political Experience-

Past-

GOP National Convention Delegate

GOP State Convention Delegate

Solid Waste District Fiscal Office

Grissom Redevelopment Authority Treasurer

Miami County Auditor

Auditors' Association of Indiana, 1st Vice President

Peru-Miami County Economic Development Corporation

Miami County Council, Vice President

Allen Township Trustee/Assessor

Logansport Memorial Hospital Foundation Coordinator

Dean of Agriculture=s Advisory Committee, Purdue University

Chairman, Agricultural and International Trade Committee, 2001National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL)

Current-

Chairman, Fifth District Republican Party

Member, State Republican Committee

Executive Director of the National Calcium Initiative

Member, National Agricultural and Rural Development Committee, NCSL

Independent Colleges of Indiana Board Member

Farm Bureau Member

Mexico Baptist Church - Sunday School Teacher 17 years

Lincoln Lodge #523 F. & A.M.

Scottish Rite

Murat Shrine

Legislative-

Indiana House of Representatives, 1992-Present

House District 23- Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall & Miami Counties

Leadership Position- Majority Floor Leader, 2004 to present

Republican Floor Leader, 2002-2004

Committee Assignments 2005-2006-

Agriculture & Rural Development, Natural Resources, Statutory Committee on Interstate International Cooperation, Committee on Joint Rules

Ways & Means Committee 1994-2002

Awards-

Industry Meritorious Service Award, Indiana Pork Producers Association

Friend of Conservation Award, presented by SWCD

Accomplishment Award, Soil and Water Conservation Districts Society

2003 Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Indianapolis

Golden Shovel Award, presented by the Peru-Miami County Economic Development Corp.

2006 Hardwood Hero, presented by the Indiana Hardwood Lumberman's Association