Julie Deering, Stacey Hartley, and Melissa Huppert have recently been named as 2025 Purdue Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication (ASEC) Distinguished Alumni.
The award recognizes Purdue ASEC alumni who have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service, or other career endeavors through their leadership, community service, and professional accomplishments.
Honorees have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Agricultural Communication, Agricultural Education, or related field from either the Purdue University Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication or Youth Development and Agricultural Education.
You’re invited to attend the awards presentation and ceremony on Friday, September 12 at 2 p.m. in Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences, room 1042, on Purdue University’s campus in West Lafayette.
Julie K. Deering (B.S., Agricultural Communication, 2005) has been named a 2025 Purdue Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Distinguished Alumnus.
Deering manages her own full-service communications business, which specializes in media relations, issues management, and content creation across print and digital channels, as well as conferences and events. She and her husband also own and operate Nature’s Plow where they raise sheep and cattle, with an emphasis on heifer development and providing high-quality protein options to consumers with a great experience. As part of this venture, the Deerings opened a storefront late last year in Montgomery City, Missouri, to sell their farm-raised meat and all things Missouri made.
With the spirit of a creative and a focus on serving others, Deering is known for continually raising the bar and bringing pragmatic solutions to the table while stretching those she works with. She’s an experienced editor, writer, and speaker in agriculture. She doesn’t shy away from board rooms or helping CEOs find their voice in the form of speeches, columns, or managing their social presence. This mom and pork producer converted cattlewoman has spent the better part of two decades covering or working on behalf of the seed industry, agribusiness and farmers.
As the Senior Communications Manager (2020-2022) and then as Consultant (2022-present) for the U.S. Soybean Export Council, she co-led the first global omni-channel marketing campaign in 64 countries and across eight languages, spotlighting the advantages of using U.S. soy over soy of other origins. Through experiential marketing, she led the creative direction in bringing grain bins and soybean fields of the Midwest to the heart of New York City for Soy Connext, the global soy summit.
In prior roles, Deering was senior content manager for HighQuest Partners’ Agribusiness Division, editor and editorial director of Seed World, Seed World Pro, and Germination (2014-2020). Here, she transformed what was a competitive media property into the premier news and information outlet for the seed industry.
According to Owen Newlin, retired senior vice president and director of what was Pioneer Hi-Bred International: “If it wasn’t published in Seed World, it didn’t happen” — this just might be her biggest compliment when it comes to news, editorial content and accuracy.
Deering launched a thought-leadership platform known as INSIDERS, generating more than $500,000 of additional revenue, introduced the first Seed World Media webinar series, which turned into a regular feature, and managed industry relationships with key partners and seed associations around the world. When COVID-19 hit, she led the buildout of the first fully digital event for the International Seed Federation.
At Farm Journal (2012-2014), she served as managing editor of Top Producer magazine, the leading farm business publication for 160,000 farm executives who are responsible for the bulk of U.S. farm products sold and the purchase of nearly 80 percent of all farm inputs.
Prior to joining the Farm Journal content team, she lived in northern Virginia and served as director of communications for the American Seed Trade Association (2010-2012), leading all communications to the more than 500 members spanning row and field crops to vegetables and flowers, navigating issues such as modern breeding techniques, how products move off-patent, state and federal proposed non-GMO labeling laws, PVP rights, and phytosanitary requirements.
A Shelby County, Indiana native and farm girl at heart, Deering said she thrives in the world where agriculture and communications intersect. She is the youngest person to serve as president of the American Agricultural Editor’s Association (now the Agricultural Communicators Network, ACN). She serves as chair of the ACN Professional Improvement Foundation’s Board of Trustees. In 2024, Deering chaired the 20th Ag Media Summit, the largest annual conference of agricultural communicators in the United States, providing opportunities for networking and professional development. This year, she served as co-chair and program chair of the Ag Media Summit.
Locally, she serves on the Callaway-Montgomery Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors, having just earned the position of co-treasurer. At church, she teaches Kids for Jesus and Vacation Bible School.
At home, she and her husband Mike Deering are raising three young children. The “why” question keeps her sharp and continually evaluating what we do and how we do it with a critical lens. She’s a natural strategist, and if you can’t tell, she’s always up for an adventure.
“None of this would be possible without the support and love of my husband Mike Deering, my parents Jim and Kay Douglas, and siblings Lora Nigh, Katie Bailey, James Douglas, and Leanne Toliver, and many friends, neighbors, colleagues, and mentors,” Deering said.
Stacey A. Hartley (B.S., Agricultural Education, 2001; M.S., Youth Development and Agricultural Education, 2003) has been named a 2025 Purdue Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Distinguished Alumnus.
Hartley has been an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor in the Tipton Community School Corporation since 2018. Previously, she held similar titles for the Lebanon Community School Corporation (2004-2018) and Clinton Central Junior/Senior High School (2002-2004).
“More than anything, I love sharing my passion for agriculture with students and fellow educators,” Hartley said. “Helping others grow into leaders and develop a deeper appreciation for the ag industry is what keeps me inspired every day.”
Hartley’s passion for agriculture began on the family farm in northern Montgomery County. Growing up surrounded by crops, livestock, and a strong rural community laid the foundation for the path she followed. She said that being actively involved in North Montgomery FFA and the Montgomery County 4-H program gave her a sense of purpose. With the encouragement of her mentor and agriculture teacher, David Marrison, Hartley pursued a career in agricultural education.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education in 2001 and a master’s degree in Youth Development and Agricultural Education. She also earned a School Administration Licensure Certification from Purdue in 2018.
She has been teaching agricultural science and business to grades 7 through 12 for 23 years. During that time, she has taught a wide variety of courses including principles of agriculture, horticulture science, greenhouse production, food science, advanced life science foods, ag leadership, and many others.
Hartley said that coaching FFA teams has always been her passion. She has guided students in areas such as soils, crops, horticulture, chapter meeting, and livestock skillathon. A priority, she said, is building and growing strong agriculture programs. At Tipton, she helped grow the program from just one teacher to a team of three, with an FFA membership of 170 students in grades 7-12.
She described developing the Total Seed Production Greenhouse as one of her proudest accomplishments. The greenhouse facility came to life through partnerships with Total Seed, Friends of Tipton, the Tipton County Foundation, and community sponsors. She also helped restart the agriculture program and FFA at Lebanon alongside co-teacher Byron Ernest. They grew that program from two to four teachers within just three years.
Hartley advocates for agricultural education statewide. She served two terms as president of the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators (IAAE) and was a district director in both District 4 and District 5. She has served on the Purdue College of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory Council, Tipton County 4-H Council, and led the Livestock Club for 11 years.
She has received multiple District 5 Outstanding Agriculture Teacher and Outstanding Program awards. In 2024, she was named the IAAE Teacher Mentor and a Tipton High School Teacher of the Year Finalist. In 2013, she was Co-Teacher of the Year for Lebanon Community School Corporation and was also a semi-finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year.
Hartley lives on a farm in Tipton County with her husband, Adam, and their children, Emily and Jacob. They raise corn, soybeans, and cattle. Watching Emily continue the family tradition by studying agribusiness management at Purdue has been incredibly rewarding, Hartley said, and a reminder of the lasting impact agricultural education can have — both at home and in the classroom.
Melissa Huppert (M.S. 2012, Ph.D., 2015, Youth Development and Agricultural Education) has been named a 2025 Purdue Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Distinguished Alumnus.
Huppert is the STEM Outreach Director for the Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence, part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Since beginning in that role in 2017, she has led numerous state and regional initiatives that connect students with real-world STEM and engineering experiences.
Huppert grew up on a family hobby farm in southeast Minnesota, where she was homeschooled and developed a deep appreciation for animals, nature, and family values. After a year at the University of Minnesota, she pursued training at the Kentucky Horseshoeing School and launched a successful farrier business. Through that work, she discovered her true passion: educating others.
She earned an associate of applied science degree in Equine Science from Rochester Community and Technical College in 2006, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Agribusiness from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2010. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in Youth Development and Agricultural Education in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
At Minnesota State, Huppert created and is the director of the Engineering Machine Design Contest (EMDC), a growing regional program that challenges 5th-12th grade students to build chain-reaction machines by applying engineering principles and teamwork. The contest now spans multiple states and boasts more than 50 percent female participation.
Huppert also leads professional development for educators. She focuses on integrating experiential learning into classroom instruction. Her recent efforts center on educator externships, which are immersive industry experiences that equip teachers to revise their curricula by embedding career-connected, hands-on learning opportunities. Through these real-world connections, teachers are better able to inspire student interest and engagement. Huppert has led multiple grant-funded initiatives that promote exploration in emerging technologies, engineering, and skilled trades.
Beyond her leadership with the Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence, Huppert serves on the SciMathMN Executive Board, chairs the Scientific Review Committee for the Southern Minnesota Regional Science & Engineering Fairs, and actively contributes to the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem. She is known for fostering partnerships among K-12 organizations, higher education, and industry to align education with evolving workforce needs.
Huppert lives in Wisconsin with her husband, a skilled trim carpenter, and their two young children, Eleanora and Colton, whom she homeschools. Her family life is grounded in faith and learning, supported by loving grandparents and enriched by their animals, garden, and outdoor adventures. She remains dedicated to helping young people — her own and many others — discover their interests, develop their talents, and find purpose through curiosity and connection.
Source: Purdue Agricultural Communications
