By Andi Anderson
Duane Huge, a 1985 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Agricultural Education, has been named a 2024 Purdue Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication (ASEC) Distinguished Alumnus.
Huge dedicated 38 years of his career to teaching Agricultural Science and Business, impacting countless students before retiring in July 2023.
Huge spent 20 years teaching at Cloverdale Community Schools and 18 years at Danville Community School Corporation.
After his retirement, he continued to contribute to the field by becoming the program coordinator for the Mentoring Indiana Beginning Agriculture Teachers (MI-BAT) program, where he mentors and guides new agriculture teachers across Indiana.
Huge's passion for agriculture began on his family’s 1,200-acre grain and livestock farm near Monticello, Indiana. This early experience led him to pursue a career in agricultural education, earning his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1985.
Throughout his teaching career, Huge taught a wide range of agriculture courses, including plant science, animal science, horticulture, natural resource management, and agribusiness management.
He also achieved great success as a coach for FFA Career Development Event (CDE) teams in various disciplines, including soils, horticulture, forestry, and livestock.
His teams and individuals frequently placed in the top 10 at the national level, with national winners in soils, public speaking, and proficiency contests.
Huge’s dedication to agricultural education extended beyond the classroom. He served as chairman of the Indiana FFA Board of Trustees, a district representative on the Indiana 4-H/FFA Judging Committee, and held leadership roles on the Hendricks County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the Cloverdale Community School Corporation School Board.
Throughout his career, Huge received numerous awards, including the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Region Young Member Award, NAAE Region Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Golden Owl Award, which honors the Indiana agricultural educator of the year. He was also a finalist for the Indiana Teacher of the Year Award in 2017.
Huge currently resides on his 150-acre farm in Owen County with his wife, Jane. They continue to be active in agriculture, raising corn, soybeans, and cattle, while enjoying Purdue football and basketball games and visiting their daughter, Mariah, a Purdue Agriculture graduate.
The 2024 ASEC Distinguished Alumni awards ceremony will take place on Friday, October 18, at 2 p.m. in Creighton Hall of Animal Sciences, room 1042, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend.
Photo Credit: purdue-university
Categories: Indiana, Education