Our Team

Shaun's Purdue team address today’s agronomic challenges of soybean and small grains through various extension programs and applied research. Outreach efforts are to educate, train, and provide the most relevant information that enables timely and sound management decisions in these production systems.

Overall goals of Shaun’s extension and research team are to improve the production of soybeans and small grains while maintaining economic viability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. To this end, we evaluate various cultural practices, new and upcoming inputs, and integrated management. Key areas of interest include: precision management of resources and practices; integration of soil characteristics, nutrient inputs, and crop physiology; and the influence of agronomic practices on yield physiology of first crop and double crop soybean systems (winter wheat and cover crop).

Joe Rorick is the On-Farm Sustainability Programs and Research Coordinator for Purdue University Extension in partnership with the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. His primary role is to help coordinate the University’s efforts with conservation practices in Indiana agriculture with an emphasis on soil health and soil conservation practices, including cover crops and 4R nutrient management practices. Day-to-day work is done alongside Assistant Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty leaders, Extension Specialists, and Educators. He enjoys connecting farmers with governmental and non-governmental organizations statewide, supporting conservation use in these same farmer’s operations.

Scott is the Senior Administrator Purdue On The Farm.  He also represents Indiana and the North Central Region of Land Grant Colleges on the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Board of Directors.  Prior to Purdue On The Farm responsibilities, Scott served as the County Extension Director and Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for Shelby County from 1999 to 2024. He served on the Shelby County Farm Bureau Board, Shelby County Plan Commission, and Ag Promotion Committee.   In 2010, Scott was recognized as Indiana’s Extension Educator of the Year. He is an Indiana Ag Leadership Program Class 15 graduate, Certified Crop Advisor and licensed drone pilot.  

Chad Fiechter is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Finance in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. After spending nearly a decade farming in Northeastern Indiana, Chad returned to graduate school; first to Cornell University for a MS degree and then Purdue for his PhD. Chad’s farming experience motivates and informs his research, teaching, and outreach on agricultural finance, farm/agribusiness management, and agricultural policy. Chad lives in West Lafayette with his wife, Christen, and their son, Wilder, and twin daughters, Elbee and Suri. As a family, whenever Indiana weather allows, they prefer to be outside. 

Bryan Overstreet is the Purdue Extension and the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative’s (CCSI) Conservation Agronomist and Northern Indiana Soil Health Coordinator along with being on the Purdue On The Farm leadership team . He grew up on a farm near Waveland where he was a 10 year 4-H member in Parke County. Bryan came to Purdue Extension after a twenty-year career with an Agriculture Co-op system as an Agronomist. He then spent his first 18 years with Purdue as an Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator in Jasper County. His dream was to go back to that farm near Waveland but he has made a career of helping farmers across the state making improvements on their farms instead.

Along with working in partnership with CCSI Bryan is also involved in assisting educators with Purdue on the Farm with scouting and setting up demo plots on farms. He is also working to help develop the Indiana Organic Network (ION).

In his off time he enjoys traveling, camping, kayaking , fishing and time with his family including his 3 grand children.