By Jamie Martin
Agricultural educators from 15 states have been recognized through the 2025-2026 Golden Owl Award program, an initiative designed to celebrate teachers who make a lasting impact on students and rural communities.
Organized by Nationwide and its state FFA partners, the program recorded more than 4,900 nominations this year and recognized 107 finalists. The strong participation reflects growing appreciation for educators who inspire students to explore careers in agriculture and related industries.
The Golden Owl Award honors teachers who demonstrate excellence in agricultural education while helping students develop leadership skills, technical knowledge, and career readiness. The state winners receive the title of Ag Educator of the Year, a Golden Owl Award trophy and financial support to enhance learning opportunities within their programs.
Since the program began in 2018, Nationwide and its partners have invested more than $800,000 in agricultural education initiatives. Funding has supported teachers, school agricultural programs, students, and state FFA organizations.
The award program continues to expand as interest grows nationwide. Delaware and Utah recently joined the list of participating states, bringing the total to 15 states involved in recognizing outstanding agricultural educators.
The 15 educators named Ag Educators of the Year through the Golden Owl Award program were:
- California: Russell Zimmerman, Nipomo High School
- Delaware: Mark Breeding, Caesar Rodney High School
- Iowa: Zach Morris, West Liberty High School
- Illinois: Joe Steffen, Newark High School
- Indiana: Lynnette Markley, Argos High School
- Kansas: Dr. Kelly Hoelting, Mission Valley High School
- Kentucky: Ben Prevette, Hopkins County Central High School
- Maryland: Becky Yost, Northern High School
- Missouri: Jarred Sayre, Milan C‑2 High School
- Nebraska: Tony Jensen, Freeman High School
- New York: Mary Coolbaugh, Marcus Whitman Central School
- Ohio: Alex Zimmer, Buckeye Valley High School
- Pennsylvania: Doug Masser, Pequea Valley High School
- South Dakota: Dave VanderWal, De Smet High School
- Utah: Chad Warnick, Delta High School
“These outstanding teachers exemplify passion and devotion to shaping the future of their communities,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “Their tireless efforts inspire the next generation of agriculture leaders, and we’re proud to recognize their invaluable contributions as Ag Educators of the Year.”
Beyond honoring state winners, the program also recognizes finalists and provides financial support to participating state FFA organizations. These investments help strengthen agricultural education programs and provide students with valuable learning experiences.
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Categories: National