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).
Stacey A. Hartley (B.S., Agricultural Education, 2001; M.S., Youth Development and Agricultural Education, 2003) has been an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor in the Tipton Community School Corporation since 2018. "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.
