Association; membership; issuance of stock

Sec. 11. (a) An association may under the terms and conditions prescribed in the bylaws adopted by the association admit as members or issue common and voting stock to any of the following: (1) The individuals or political subdivisions of Indiana that meet the requirements of subsection (b). (2) The associations that meet the requirements of subsection (c). (b) To meet the requirements of this subsection, individuals or political subdivisions must be engaged in the production of agricultural products. For purposes of this section, a lessor or landlord of land used for the production of agricultural products or any individual devoting a substantial part of the individual's time to assisting others to produce agricultural products, whether employed by a farmer, an agricultural cooperative corporation, or an association, is considered to be engaged in the production of agricultural products. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the holders of common stock of an association limited by its articles of incorporation to one (1) or more particular agricultural services must be producers of agricultural products that use the articles or services to which the activities of the association are limited. (c) An association: (1) organized under or governed by this chapter or organized under or governed by the agricultural law of another state of the United States; or (2) that complies with 7 U.S.C. 291 and 7 U.S.C. 292, whether incorporated in or outside the United States, and with acts amendatory or supplementary to 7 U.S.C. 291 and 7 U.S.C. 292; may become a member or stockholder of any association or associations organized under this chapter. Any corporation, however organized, that is lawfully engaged in the production of agricultural products, either as owner, lessor, or lessee of land used for the production of agricultural products, may become a stockholder or member in any association that is organized under this chapter and for which more than one-half (1/2) of the value of the association's business consists of the patronage of individuals who are direct producers of agricultural products. (d) A member of an association organized under this chapter that is not an individual may be represented by any individual authorized to do so in writing by the member.