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.