Michelle Stanger of Monroe County took office as the new District 7 education and outreach coordinator earlier this year.
Before becoming a DEOC, Stanger served as her county’s education and outreach coordinator for 10 years. She replaces Aleta Crowe, who retired after serving as DEOC for nine years.
Inspired by her husband and his family’s dedication to agriculture, she decided to join Indiana Farm Bureau in 2009.
“Because I didn’t have any prior agriculture experience or knowledge, my husband and his family were very patient with me,” said Stanger. “Since then, I have educated myself by being involved with 4-H and Farm Bureau.”
Now that she is a DEOC, she looks forward to providing leadership to various education and outreach activities in her district as well as working with the other DEOCs around the state. In addition to Monroe County, her district encompasses Clay, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Owen, Sullivan and Vigo counties.
In addition to her new role with INFB, Stanger is a real estate broker in Bloomington and surrounding counties. She also serves on the Bloomington Board of Realtors, Monroe County Fair Board, Homemakers Extension Club and several committees.
Stanger resides in Bloomington with her husband, Jim. She has an adult daughter, Suzanne, and two grown stepdaughters, Bethany and Ashlyn. Her husband and father-in-law farm 600 acres of corn and soybeans.
When she is not busy volunteering her time, Stanger enjoys gardening and playing softball.