96 Golden Owl Award finalists announced

As interest grows in careers that support farming, agribusiness, and environmental stewardship, agricultural education programs are seeing a surge in student enrollment — but they’re also facing a critical crossroads: a growing shortage of qualified teachers threatens the future of these programs.

With 70 educators across 30 states leaving the profession in just two years, the need to recognize and support those who are preparing the next generation of agriculture leaders has never been more urgent.

To help address this trend, Nationwide created the Golden Owl Award in partnership with state FFA organizations to celebrate and invest in the educators keeping agriculture strong. Just ask Jeffrey Stimmell, who was named Ohio’s 2023 Ag Educator of the Year.

When he was hired in 2014 by the Delaware Area Career Center to take over the agricultural science program in the Big Walnut Local School District, he had about 40 students. Today, more than 230 students are enrolled in the program — so many that he had to hire a second teacher. “Together, we work to show students the different ways they can get engaged in agriculture,” Stimmell said.

After receiving more than 4,600 nominations across 13 states for the 2024-2025 Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is recognizing 96 educators as finalists.

California:

• Vernon Clark, Bakersfield-Foothill High School
• Marc DeBernardi, Santa Maria High School
• Carrie Phillips, Altaville-Bret Harte High School
• Lori Porter, Livermore High School

Iowa:

• Meghan Bond, Central Jr. & Sr. High of Elkader
• Laura Brecht, Prairie High School of Cedar Rapids
• Ryan Faught, Forest City High School
• Kaylea Hansmann, West Sioux High School of Hawarden
• Andrew Johnson, Clarinda High School
• Alex Rodgers, Southeast Warren High School of Liberty Center
• Andrea Rouse, Des Moines Area Community College of Ankeny

Illinois:

• Ralph Allen, Mt. Pulaski High School
• Darin Blunier, Midland High School
• Jessica Chipman, Flanagan Cornell High School
• Jeff Robison, Goreville High School
• Bill Waggoner, Kaskaskia College
• Kirsten Wyatt, Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School

Indiana:

• Jamie Earnhart, Central Noble High School
• Chris Kauffman, Westfield High School
• Jeff Miller, Sullivan High School
• Janna Morgan, North Putnam High School
• Rebekah Peterson, DeKalb High School
• Kenna Slough, Shakamak High School
• McCord Snider, East Central High School
• Jim Wildermuth, North Miami High School

Kansas:

• Melisa Bertz, Prairie View High School
• Steve Buss, Jefferson West High School
• Janet Gottstine, Logan High School
• Emma Lehmann, Neodesha High School
• Elissa Mullinix, Manhattan High School
• Kelly Sipes, Stanton Co. High School
• Lauren VanAllen, Clearwater High School

Kentucky:

• Keely Cooper, Madison Central High School
• Carrie Davis, Greenup County High School
• Wesley Estes, Logan County High School
• Jacob Falwell, Calloway County High School
• Harvey Franklin, Lincoln County High School
• Frank Gifford, Robertson County High School
• Greg Hillard, Ohio County High School
• Lewis Mink, Rockcastle County High School
• Jacklyn Post, Owen County High School
• Jeffrey Shaffer, Western Hills High School
• Makenzie Thomas, Marion County High School
• Maen Woods, Caldwell County High School

Maryland:

• Rachael Coffey, Cecil County School of Technology
• Erika Edwards, Hereford High School
• Amanda Farmer, Boonsboro High School
• Brittany Sentelle, Frederick High School
• Kathy Wojcik, Applications and Research Laboratory

Missouri:

• Tonya Jedlicka, Southern Missouri Technical Institute
• Randy Plattner, Grand River Technical School
• Gary Reichel, California R-I High School
• Jay Shepherd, Mount Vernon High School
• Michael Slater, Grand River Technical School
• Rylyn Small, East Prairie High School
• Scott Stone, Centralia High School

Nebraska:

• Cole Blomendahl, Mead Public High School
• Kathleen Craig, North Platte Public Schools
• Dave Ference, Ord Public School
• Amy Kohtz, Friend Public School – Exeter
• Milligan/Friend FFA Chapter
• Joel Miller, Hampon Public School
• Ellen Trahan, Keya Paha County Schools

New York:

• Tara Burke, Tri-Valley Secondary School
• Matthew Greene, Alexandria Central High School
• Lily Anne Lachnor, Marion Junior/Senior High School
• Chelsey Mahany, Groton Junior/Senior High School
• Amy Maxwell, Salem Central School District
• Katie Mitrowski, Cattaraugus Little Valley High School
• Tanya Nickerson, Springville Griffith Institute
• McKensey Periard, Owen D Young Central School
• Cathleen Reeder, Afton Junior/Senior High School
• Tamara Stanford, John Bowne High School

Ohio:

• Jaime Chenevey, West Holmes High School
• Haley Davis, New Lexington High School
• Alison Derringer, Twin Valley South High School
• Kris Guthrie, Ridgedale High School
• Donna Hohman, Carey High School
• Tom Holton, East Knox High School
• Alexis Howell, Evergreen High School
• Laura Kackley, Meadowbrook High School
• Jamie Loudon, Georgetown High School
• Nejla Shaheen, Bio-Med Science Academy High School

Pennsylvania:

• Gretchen Dingman, Tri-Valley High School
• Nicole Hall, Millville Area High School
• Krista Pontius, Greenwood High School
• Kara Ruffalo, Avella High School

South Dakota:

• Austin Bishop, Belle Fourche High School
• Josh Christiansen, Harrisburg High School
• Sara Colombe, Milbank High School
• Reed Johnson, Philip High School
• Nathan Knutson, Viborg-Hurley High School
• Sarah McClure, Gettysburg High School
• Susan Roudabush, Ethan High School
• Dan Tonak, Willow Lake High School

“Behind every thriving ag program is a dedicated teacher planting the seeds for tomorrow’s food and farm innovations,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “By spotlighting their impact through the Golden Owl Award, we’re not only honoring their commitment, we’re also investing in the future of agriculture and the students who will shape it.”

Each year, the selected honorees, chosen by established state committees, are awarded $5002,3 in recognition of their contributions. One finalist in each state is then selected as the Ag Educator of the Year and receives an additional $3,0002,3 and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy. Nationwide also contributes $5,000 to each of the participating state FFA organizations.

To read more about the state honorees, see past winners, or learn about the nomination process in select states, visit www.GoldenOwlAward.com.