Golden Owl Awards expands to honor ag teachers in 13 states

Insurance company Nationwide has already chosen 79 agriculture teachers to receive its Golden Owl Award for the 2023-24 year, with 11 of them receiving the prestigious Ag Educator of the Year title. Though previous years have recognized 11 states, this year’s program honors top agricultural teachers from 13 states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.

Welcome to the party Kentucky and Maryland! And now the opportunity is open to nominate teachers in all of these states for the 2024-25 season.

Agriculture educators are vital to their communities, dedicating countless hours to preparing students for successful careers in the agriculture industry. In recognition of their invaluable contributions, Nationwide launched the Golden Owl Award in 2018, aiming to provide additional resources and recognition for agricultural programs and educators.

Since its creation, the Golden Owl Award has contributed nearly half a million dollars to support teachers, students, school agricultural programs, and FFA chapters. Last year alone, the award received over 3,500 nominations from 11 participating states. Due to its growing popularity and positive impact, the program is expanding this year to include Kentucky and Maryland.

“Agricultural educators are more than just teachers; they are community leaders shaping the future of agriculture,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “We encourage students, parents, and community members to nominate their agriculture teachers to celebrate their dedication and hard work.”

Nationwide says it remains committed to the future of the agriculture community, supporting both national and local organizations. In addition to the Golden Owl Award, the company is donating $5,000 to the FFA organization in each participating state to further support the growth of students, teachers, and advisors.