Since the nomination period began for the 2023-24 Golden Owl Award, more than 1,100 teachers have been nominated by students, parents, and community members across 11 states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota. This award by Nationwide and its state partners aims to recognize the contributions of agricultural teachers and support them with $500 of additional resources to help fund future educational efforts for their programs.
For the this award season, 79 teachers have been recognized as finalists.
“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.”
Along with the 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.
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, Versailles High School
- Jessie Schulze, Delta High School
- Julie Stawowy, Old Fort High School
- Rob Brokaw, New Lexington High School
- Tod Fox, Ashland High School
- Tom Jolliff, North Union High School
- Tom Mazzaro, Pymatuning Valley High School
- Tyler Lones, Sheridan High 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
South Dakota
- Austin Bishop, Belle Fourche High School
- Brady Duxbury, Wessington Springs High School
- Clayton Sorum, Tea Area High School
- Fred Zenk, Webster High School
- Josh Johnson, Brookings High School
- Renae Gebhart, Lemmon High School
- Tara Fastert, Harrisburg High School
- Terry Rieckman, McCook Central High School
