Education

Graduate, Sterling High School, Sterling, KS  (1985)
BA Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS  (1989)
BS Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS  (1990)
MS Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS  (1993)

Professional Experience

Teacher/Coach, Lansing High School, Lansing, KS  (1990-1993)
Teacher/Coach/AD, Trinity Academy, Wichita, KS  (1994-2002)
Farmer, Engelland Farms, Sterling, KS  (2002-present)

Community Service

Board of Directors, Farmers COOP Union, Sterling, KS  (2009-2012)
County Office Committee (COC), Farm Service Agency, Rice County, KS  (2004-2010)

Honors and Awards

Phi Beta Kappa  (1989)
4-1A State Champion Boys Soccer Coach (2001)
Teacher of Year, Trinity Academy  (2002)

Narrative

Mark grew up a farm kid. For the first 7 years the farm was a small “country gentleman” establishment near Rose Hill southeast of Wichita where John farmed as a hobby. In 1974, John moved the family back to the Sterling farm.  From that point forward Mark learned farming as a demanding, but rewarding, business. Mark enjoyed rural Kansas life and growing up in close proximity to both his paternal and maternal grandparents. Mark was graduated from Sterling High School and followed the family tradition by attending the University of Kansas.

After graduating from KU with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1990.  Mark spent the next twelve years teaching high school chemistry and coaching high school sports.  He taught at a public school in Lansing (near Kansas City) and helped establish Trinity Academy, a private Christian high school, in Wichita.

While living in Wichita, Mark began to re-engage with agriculture.  He farmed the family’s Rose Hill property in the evenings, weekends and summers. As his interest in farming full-time grew, he began spending summers working on the Sterling farm with John. Mark and Sarah and the kids would pack up their city household and relocate to a tiny and ancient farmhouse for the summer.

In 2002, Mark and Sarah moved to Sterling to work on the farm full time.  Over the years, Mark gradually assumed a greater leadership role in the Engelland Farms operation, and formally took the helm in 2011.