CFAES Extension Award Winners

Seungki Lee

Seungki Lee is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at The Ohio State University. He earned his PhD in economics from Iowa State University in 2021 and joined Ohio State afterward. As an agricultural economist, Seungki studies markets and policies in the agricultural sector, focusing on innovation, technology adoption, and supply chain issues.  

Originally from South Korea, he comes from a family of apple growers, which shaped his interest in sustainable farm businesses. Seungki’s teaching and Extension efforts center on agricultural marketing and risk management. He teaches grain merchandising for undergraduates and has provided grain marketing education to Ohio farmers. He also shares market outlooks through various platforms, including his original program, Coffee & Grain Marketing with Dr. Lee. 

Laura Lindsey

Laura Lindsey is a professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, with a 75% Extension and 25% research appointment. She leads research and Extension efforts in soybean and small grain crop production with a focus on maximizing crop yield while maintaining both economic and environmental sustainability. Laura’s research and Extension programs are highly integrated, with research questions often stemming from conversations with farmers. 

Rachel Cochran

For the past five years, Rachel has served as a water quality Extension associate with Ohio State University Extension, working across Paulding, Defiance, and Van Wert Counties. She is a certified crop adviser and a certified professional agronomist. Rachel earned her bachelor's in sustainable agriculture from the University of Kentucky and her master's in plant health management from Ohio State. Her expertise centers on nutrient management, soil health, and in-field conservation practices, including cover crops and subsurface fertilizer placement.

Rachel collaborates with farmers and landowners in the Western Lake Erie Basin, leading research and educational efforts to support the adoption of conservation practices aimed at enhancing water quality and soil health. 

Shannon Carter

Shannon Carter is an assistant professor and area leader with Ohio State University Extension. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State in family relations and human development. A third-generation Extension educator in Family and Consumer Sciences, Shannon is passionate about helping others live smart by using research-based information to better their lives, families, and communities.

As an area leader, Shannon enjoys helping staff achieve their aspirations and goals. Her greatest impact in Extension has been bringing out the best in others. Her greatest impact in life has been, along with her husband, raising two amazing children into even more wonderful young adults. She is proud to be part of the nationwide network of Extension professionals who give their best at work so their communities have the knowledge and resources they need to actively create conditions in which they thrive. 

Digital Ag eFields Team

The eFields team aims to enhance both the quantity and quality of farmer-participatory on-farm research in Ohio. The team brings together a diverse group of stakeholders and researchers with the mission to drive innovation and solve local production challenges. On average, the team engages 90 farms, 60 Ohio State contributors, and 50 industry partners annually. Ohio State contributors have spanned the college, bringing together researchers from the Departments of Extension; Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering; Horticulture and Crop Science; School of Environment and Natural Resources; Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics; Plant Pathology; Animal Science; and Entomology. Since 2017, the eFields team has conducted 1,174 trials in 68 Ohio counties.

The work of the eFields team has changed the way Ohio farmers use data to drive decisions in their operations. Recent survey results indicated 47% of responding farmers have altered their production practices, and 27% have invested in new or improved technology due to the research insights gained from eFields.