Leadership changes in 2023: Nielsen, Daniels, Kettler move on

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s ag industry will look a little different in 2023 as several leaders change jobs and retire.

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels and “Corn Guy” Bob Nielsen will retire effective January 2023.

In Indianapolis, Bruce Kettler will leave his role as director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to start a new position at the Agribusiness Council of Indiana.

Corn Guy Retires

Bob Nielsen is retiring from his role as Extension corn specialist and agronomy professor at Purdue after 40 years in the field.

Career highlights:

• Nielsen has shared corn knowledge with more than 720,000 farmers and their advisers at over 2,000 Extension programs in Indiana and the United States.

• He has traveled to Canada, Hungary, Argentina, New Zealand, Russia, Italy, South Africa and Mexico to participate in farm conferences.

• He was one of the first people to bring agronomy online. He built an online newsletter called “Chat n’ Chew Café.” It provided farmers and researchers a forum to read about the latest agronomy research and applications.

• Nielsen helped launch Purdue’s Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center in 1985.

• Nielsen conducted and shared research on a variety of corn-related areas. Most recently the research focused on identifying the most cost-effective use of expensive crop production inputs like seed and fertilizer.

• Nielsen was on the forefront of using high-tech precision agriculture tools to conduct large field-scale trials.

• Nielsen served as a mentor to 27 graduate students.

Upon retirement, Nielsen plans to travel with his wife, volunteer and spend time with family.

Daniel Quinn will serve as Nielsen’s successor.

New Purdue President

Mitch Daniels will no longer serve as Purdue president, after announcing his retirement in 2022.

The next president is Dr. Mung Chiang, currently the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering and executive vice president for strategic initiatives.

Career highlights:

• Advancing student affordability, fostered by a decade-long tuition freeze and saving students and families over $1 billion.

• Leading unprecedented enrollment growth.

• Setting new highs in fundraising, including the Ever True campaign, raising more than $2.5 billion and initiating the ongoing annual Purdue Day of Giving.

• Expanding the university’s land-grant mission through creation of Purdue Global and Purdue Polytechnic High Schools.

• Guiding over $500 million in facility improvement projects, changing forever the way learning and research is delivered across campus.

• Championing university-led economic development and growth through major efforts such as Discovery Park District at Purdue.

“There is no other university leader like Mitch Daniels,” said the president-elect. “President Daniels built Purdue into the most consequential public university in the United States during the Daniels Decade.”

Kettler Changes Roles

Bruce Kettler was appointed director of the ISDA in 2018. In 2023, he will change jobs to serve as president and CEO of the Agribusiness Council of Indiana.

“Bruce is a lifelong member of the agriculture community and understands the significant role the ag industry plays in Indiana,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb.

“Through his dedication and commitment, he has elevated Indiana’s agribusiness development through innovation and a future-focused economy, and his leadership has set the agriculture ecosystem up for long-term success.”

Career highlights:

• Expanded growth opportunities for Indiana agriculture through development of the rural economic development model and data access for rural economic development professionals, advancement of the Indiana Hardwoods strategy and implementation of Indiana Dairy Strategy 2.0.

• Continued strong growth in soil conservation with increased cover crop adoption and money going to farmers for soil conservation and water quality priorities.

• Led the Indiana agriculture industry through the COVID-19 pandemic through communication, cooperation and regular stakeholder meetings. His leadership minimized delays and duplication of efforts in the industry during the rapidly changing COVID-19 landscape.

“I’m incredibly honored to be chosen as the next president and CEO of the Agribusiness Council of Indiana, an organization I’ve had a working relationship with for many years now,” Kettler said.

“I know firsthand the importance of Indiana’s agribusiness industry, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Indiana agriculture by leading this organization.”