Bryan Overstreet, a Purdue Extension educator and conservation agronomist for northern Indiana with the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, was recently named a 2023 National Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award winner. The award recognizes excellence in the field of professional Extension for members with more than 10 years of service.

Overstreet most recently served a long stint as Jasper County Extension educator for ag and natural resources. He is well known by Indiana Prairie Farmer readers because he is a frequent certified crop adviser panelist for the Corn Corner, Soybean Corner, Corn Pest Beat and Soybean Pest Beat columns. Members of the Indiana Certified Crop Advisers Association take three-month turns as panelists.

Overstreet is an 18-year member of NACAA and was awarded the NACAA Achievement Award in 2011. He is also an Indiana Extension Educators Association member.

Through his role at Purdue Extension in Jasper County, Overstreet developed and led a comprehensive set of field crop production programs including field days, private pesticide applicator recertification programs and unmanned aerial vehicle certification trainings. Additionally, Overstreet is a member of the Purdue Extension Farm Stress team and has helped farm families with succession planning through the hosting of Annie’s Project.

Overstreet is also vice president of the North American Manure Expo board. He was one of the principal planners when the expo came to north-central Indiana recently. Overstreet was also vice chair of the Jasper County Plan Commission during his time as Extension educator there.

He was selected as the Indiana Certified Crop Advisor of the Year in 2018. That honor earned him a spot on the cover of Indiana Prairie Farmer.

Information for this article was supplied by the CCSI newsletter.