MSU Extension’s Lyndon Kelley receives Distinguished National Service Award
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EmailMichigan State University Extension irrigation specialist Lyndon Kelley received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents.
Michigan State University Extension irrigation specialist Lyndon Kelley received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents.
“I appreciate receiving this award, but more importantly, I have enjoyed working with Extension irrigation because it has expanded new opportunities for production agriculture farming in this area,” Kelley said. “For instance, by the early 90s, irrigation made it possible for SW Michigan farmers to grow potatoes. Now the area is one of the biggest potato production areas in the State.”
Kelley began his career at MSU Extension as a local St. Joseph County Agriculture Extension agent. As one of the most heavily irrigated counties east of the Mississippi, his experiences in St. Joseph County sparked his interest in irrigation-related Extension work. Kelley’s time spent dealing with technical, social and economic issues related to irrigation agriculture helped give him a greater understanding of irrigation as was developing a working understanding of irrigated crops such as seed corn and specialty crops.
Kelley eventually moved to a state-level Extension position focusing on groundwater protection with an agricultural emphasis. In his role as a groundwater protection educator, Kelley developed environmental protection assessment tools and trained Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (MGSP) employees. His responsibilities included leading the development of the irrigation and water use sections of the Farm*A*Syst, Crop*A*Syst and Greenhouse*A*Syst assessment tools, which are the foundation of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).
Today, Kelley serves as an irrigation educator in a jointly funded position through Michigan State University Extension and Purdue University Extension.
“I feel like I am doing the right thing,” Kelley said. “Helping producers build resilience on their farms is one of the greatest positives of this job. It is great to see farmers come through a difficult drought year with a healthy crop due to irrigation, and that often creates a more profitable opportunity for them than a normal year would. I also like seeing livestock farmers who utilize irrigation reduce the risk of drought-created feed shortages.”
Kelley was selected as the 2026 Distinguished Service Award winner by the NACAA. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes members with more than 10 years of service who have exhibited excellence in the field of professional Extension. Kelley earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan State University and has served in the irrigation industry for the past 39 years.
“Lyndon Kelley is a dedicated Extension professional who provides excellent educational support to farmers and agricultural stakeholders on irrigation management and efficiency,” Ron Bates, director of agriculture and agribusiness programming at MSU Extension, said. “Lyndon has extensive experience and knowledge regarding best practices for irrigation, irrigation scheduling and management and service of irrigation wells. Furthermore, Lyndon has extensive experience and knowledge of the policies and regulations regarding large-volume water withdrawal. He works extensively with local and state policymakers to help them improve their understanding of current irrigation practices and farmers’ responsible use of water for crop production. Lyndon is truly deserving of this award and it is great to see his colleagues recognize his dedication and impact with his agricultural stakeholders.”
NACAA is a nationwide professional Extension organization established for Extension educators and other professionals who work in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and natural resources, 4-H youth development, community development and related disciplines. The Distinguished Service Award is bestowed on members who are held in high esteem by their fellow workers and have developed and put into effect an outstanding Extension program. Kelley was one of several honorees who represent the top 2% of NACAA membership.
