(UNDATED) – A special recognition has been given to a LaGrange County man.

The National Association of County Agricultural Agents have awarded Steve Engleking with the Distinguished Service Award. The presentation happened during the 2020 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference.

Engleking has been the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator in LaGrange County for 25 years. He was one of several honorees who represent the top two percent of the membership selected by their peers and the Director of Extension.

Early in his career, Engleking helped create a three pronged safety education program with the LaGrange County Sheriff, Farm Bureau, Extension Board members and with Amish bishops after seven accidental farming deaths involving the Amish community happened.

In addition, Engleking was instrumental in a safety effort that resulted in almost all Amish buggies in LaGrange County having side reflections for better cross road visibility.

A large part of his work is working with small farms. He has developed and delivered programs in growing and marketing produce. Engleking has also led a team in the creation of the annual Purdue Extension Indiana Small Farm Conference, and works collaboratively with educators from Michigan State Extension and Purdue Extension in planning annual workshops for irrigated corn and soybeans for growers in Indiana and Michigan.