Forbush receives 2026 NAAE Outstanding Service Award
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EmailMark Forbush, Michigan FFA State Advisor and MSU faculty member, selected for National Association of Agricultural Educators 2026 Outstanding Service Award.
Mark Forbush was named the 2026 Region IV Outstanding Service Award winner from the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). The NAAE Outstanding Service Award recognizes experienced agricultural educators who have made significant contributions to agricultural education through supporting teachers and students throughout the local, state, and even national levels.
Forbush is the Michigan Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Advisor and faculty in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education (AFNRE) program in the Department of Community Sustainability. Forbush brings to his role at MSU extensive experience in agricultural education in many capacities. He began teaching agricultural education in Michigan K-12 in 1986 and continued in various school districts in Michigan through 2016. In 2016 Forbush transitioned to his current role at MSU, joining the agricultural education program and taking a more direct leadership role in Michigan FFA.
Department of Community Sustainability Department Chair, Rebecca Jordan, says of Forbush’s award, “it comes to no surprise that Mark was recognized with this honor. His commitment to students, colleagues, and deep knowledge and experience in the field of agricultural education is what makes him an extraordinary asset to Michigan State University’s Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resource Education program.”
What led Forbush to pursue an over 40-year career in the agricultural education space is his own positive experiences in agricultural education programming, a childhood growing up on a farm, and encouragement from educators along the way. Forbush specially highlights his own childhood agricultural teacher, Dave Wyrick, as an inspiration to pursue this career path. Wyrick, who retired from MSU as the former FFA State Executive Secretary, was similarly recognized by NAAE in 2025 winning a Lifetime Achievement award.
Reflecting on receiving this acknowledgement of service and impact, Forbush notes the aspects of his career he’s most proud of is seeing the students he’s worked with succeed. “The biggest impact I’m proud of is the many great students I had the privilege to teach over the years. Seeing what they are now doing. The impact from the many things students learn and do in AFNRE and FFA that sets them up for future success.”
Looking forwards, Forbush highlights the exciting growth of agricultural education across Michigan. Forbush says the future directions of his work will be “increasing options and experiences for the growing number of FFA members in Michigan and continuing to grow the number of programs and teachers in our state.”
