Jennifer Thum
Soil Conservation Director
Indiana State Department of Agriculture
My Bio: I am originally from the Mitten State, where my love of the outdoors began. I grew up on a small hobby farm with horses, rabbits, dogs, barn cats, and the occasional neighbor’s chicken. Summers were spent throwing hay, running the elevator, and learning that some barn language does not belong at the dinner table. Family vacations often centered on fairs and livestock shows. I hold degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration. My husband and I have three sons. We currently have three dogs, a red-footed tortoise — and someday, a capybara.
If I hadn’t chosen conservation for a career, I would have been a land-use attorney.
One movie I could watch over and over again is Jurassic Park (1993). When the boys are home sick, we curl up and watch the movie.
An area of conservation deserving of more investment is hobby farms, as they are increasing in our rural communities. I know the impact of our farm and the things we did wrong. Working with those landowners could affect the whole watershed.
Salty snacks or sweets?
Salty. This helps to ensure that I drink the amount of water that I should drink.
One piece of advice I’ve carried with me throughout my career is something my dad always told me: no good deed goes unpunished. I’ve come to understand that decisions are rarely simple, and someone is always disappointed. If I can go to bed at night knowing I acted honestly, then I see the decision was the right one. Now, I will second-guess it for, like, the following week.
Ask me about what we did wrong on our hobby farm and all that I have learned.