Jordan Seger has been promoted from head of the Division of Soil Conservation within the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to deputy director of ISDA. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch made the announcement July 2. Seger had served as interim deputy director in recent weeks.

Seger will work alongside ISDA Director Bruce Kettler, who was named director late last year. Kettler previously was in management with Beck’s, Atlanta, Ind.

“Jordan has been instrumental to the department, Indiana’s conservation efforts and the agriculture industry at large,” Kettler says. “He has a deep understanding of the issues facing farmers today and is always looking for ways to improve the status quo. Jordan is a genuine leader and was the clear choice for this position.”

Seger, originally from Jasper, Ind., joined ISDA in 2011 as a field technician in the Division of Soil Conservation. He moved up the ladder quickly and served has director of the Division of Soil Conservation for the past several years. His efforts have included working with other Indiana soil conservation partners. He has also worked to make sure his staff, even office staff, understands the ins and outs of getting conservation on the land.

Seger has visited Mike Starkey’s farm near Brownsburg several times and has made sure other staff members have also visited. Starkey is a no-tiller who uses cover crops, and who cooperates with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partnering agencies on various conservation projects, including monitoring nitrate levels in streams leaving his property. Seger visited his farm in the summer of 2017 with Crouch so she could become more familiar with the conservation process and the work of the Indiana Conservation Partnership.

Seger’s family is heavily involved in the poultry business and poultry processing in southern Indiana. He resides in Indianapolis. There is no word yet on when a successor will be named for Seger as ISDA’s director of the Division of Soil Conservation.

Ben Gavelek of ISDA contributed to this story.