Nurturing the next generation: 79 agricultural teachers named Golden Owl Award® finalists

Nurturing the next generation: 79 agricultural teachers named Golden Owl Award® finalists

Finalists across 11 states have a chance to be named Ag Educator of the Year

In a celebration of excellence, 79 agricultural educators have been recognized as finalists for the 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award. Since the nomination period began, more than 1,100 teachers were nominated by students, parents and community members across 11 states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

Nationwide partnered with state FFA organizations to create the Golden Owl Award in 2018 to highlight the growing importance of educators and recognize the services of the country's leading agricultural teachers. The program provides funding to help support the teachers' agricultural programs and elevate the learning opportunities for their students.

The 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award finalists are:

California:

• Daniel Crookham, Exeter High School
• Deanna Morton, Shandon High School
• Marlisa Nordstrom, Buena Park High School
• Randy Mendes, St. Helena High School
• Rebecca Freeman, Lodi-Tokay High School
• Rick Neugebauer, McArthur-Fall River High School

Illinois

• Bill Harmon, Lincoln Land Community College
• Joe Steffen, Newark High School
• Justin Howard, Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
• Mark Steber, Olney High School
• Rodney Main, ROWVA High School
• Steve Sargeant, Bushnell Prairie City High School

Indiana

• Amanda Line, South Putnam High School
• Brianna Lammers, Jasper High School
• Erin Gilley, Southmont High School
• Hank Carson, Orleans High School
• McCord Snider, East Central High School
• Ron Noll, Prairie Heights High School
• Shelby Wolford, Owen Valley High School
• ZoeAnn Chernowsky, Blue River Valley High School

Iowa

• Amber Greiman, Hawkeye Community College
• Ashley Wolfe, Grinnell High School
• Barb Lemmer, Linn-Mar High School
• Carlton Ness, South Hamilton High School
• Casey Allen, Lenox High School
• John Daniels, Belle Plaine High School
• Matthew Schroeder, Estherville High School

Kansas

• Jim Morgan, Louisburg High School
• John Kern, Washington County High School
• John Wells, Sedan High School
• Kim Clark, Royal Valley High School
• Les McNally, Hugoton High School
• Linda Chase, Wellington High School
• Nikole Winter, Hays High School

Missouri

• Amy Holder, Gallatin High School
• Ashley Brown, Bolivar High School
• Brad Driskill, State Fair Community College
• Jason Dieckhoff, Cass Career Center
• Josh Bondy, Paris High School
• Rich Thomas, Oak Ridge High School
• Sherry Byram, Owensville High School

Nebraska

• Abby Hitchler - Boone Central High School
• Boyd Bowder - St. Paul High School
• Dana Hall - McCool Junction High School
• David Gibbens - West Holt High School
• Doug Babbitt - Perkins County High School
• Stephanie Mann - Crofton High School

New York

• Andrea Elward, Prattsburgh Central School
• Cathleen Reeder, Afton Junior/Senior High School
• Chris Kelly, Greenwich Central School
• Halee Wasson, Southern Cayuga Jr/Sr High School
• Jeffrey Parnapy, Byron-Bergen Jr/Sr High School
• Jen Phelps, Carthage Senior High School
• Julia Hudyncia Davis, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Junior/Senior High School
• Katherine Keymel, Wilson Tech BOCES
• Katie Mitrowski, Cattaraugus Little Valley High School
• Tara Burke, Tri-Valley Secondary School

Ohio

• Caleb Hickman, Utica High School
• Chyann Kendel, Talawanda-Butler Tech High School
• Dena Wuebker, VersaillesHigh School
• Jessie Schulze, DeltaHigh School
• Julie Stawowy, Old FortHigh School
• Rob Brokaw, New LexingtonHigh School
• Tod Fox, AshlandHigh School
• Tom Jolliff, North UnionHigh School
• Tom Mazzaro, Pymatuning ValleyHigh School
• Tyler Lones, SheridanHigh School

Pennsylvania

• Brandon Witmer, Otto Eldred High School
• Holly Oberholtzer, Lampeter Strasburg High School
• Joanna McKelvey, Wilmington Area High School
• Mikara Anderson, Southern Huntingdon County High School

• Austin Bishop, Belle FourcheHigh School
• Brady Duxbury, Wessington SpringsHigh School
• Clayton Sorum, Tea AreaHigh School
• Fred Zenk, WebsterHigh School
• Josh Johnson, BrookingsHigh School
• Renae Gebhart, LemmonHigh School
• Tara Fastert, HarrisburgHigh School
• Terry Rieckman, McCook CentralHigh School

Each finalist was presented with an individualized plaque in front of fellow teachers and students and received a $500 donation to help fund future educational efforts for their programs. Finalists now have a chance to be crowned as their state's Ag Educator of the Year, earning an additional $3,000 contribution to help boost their program and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.¹

"As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, we are proud to thank and honor these hardworking agricultural teachers for their dedication," said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. "These educators play a crucial role in preparing students for successful careers in the industry."

Nationwide supports the future of the agriculture community through meaningful sponsorships of national and local organizations. In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is donating $5,000 to each participating state's FFA organization to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers and advisors alike.

To learn more about the Golden Owl Award, visit www.GoldenOwlAward.com.

¹In accordance with Ohio law, cash prizes in Ohio are awarded to the winner's school ag program. Because of additional funding by Farm Credit Mid-America and AgCredit, each Ohio finalist's school ag program receives an additional $1,000, while the school ag program of the Ohio Ag Educator of the Year receives an additional $2,000.