Celebrating ag educators: How the Golden Owl Award® is shaping the future of agriculture

About 40 students. That’s what Jeffrey Stimmell had in 2014 when he was hired by the Delaware Area Career Center to take over the agricultural science program in the Big Walnut Local School District in Sunbury, Ohio. But more than a decade later under his visionary leadership — and after earning the prestigious 2023 Golden Owl Award as Ohio’s Ag Educator of the Year — the program has flourished.

Today, Stimmell’s program instructs more than 230 students, all of whom share his passion for agriculture.

“She was my student-teacher a few years ago, so it made for a pretty cool full-circle moment for us,” Stimmell said of his new teacher. “Together, we work to show students the different ways they can get engaged in agriculture beyond the farm.”

Ohio Farm Bureau podcast

Ty Higgins, Senior Director of Communications at Ohio Farm Bureau, talks with Jeffrey Stimmell and Devin Fuhrman, Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer at Nationwide.

Rising enrollment and growing teacher shortage

The growing popularity of Stimmell's agricultural classes highlights a broader trend, with more students enrolling in such programs to explore careers in farming, agribusiness and environmental stewardship. It comes at a critical time, with U.S. schools facing a growing shortage of qualified ag educators. According to a June 2024 article in the Journal of Agricultural Educators, schools across 30 states lost 70 agriculture teachers in just 2020 and 2021. Many experienced ag educators are retiring and fewer younger teachers are stepping into the roles they’re leaving vacant.

This shortage poses a significant challenge to the development of the next generation of ag leaders. Addressing it requires raising awareness about the importance of ag educators, providing better support and incentives, and fostering a pipeline of passionate and skilled teachers. That’s exactly what the Golden Owl Award is all about.

Strengthening ag education through the Golden Owl Award

The Golden Owl Award celebrates the essential contributions of agricultural educators, raising awareness of their impact and providing crucial funding to enhance and grow their programs. This support enables teachers to expand opportunities within their agricultural programs while also benefiting state FFA organizations. It fosters the personal and professional growth of students, educators and advisors, creating meaningful impacts across the board.

Launched by Nationwide in 2018 in two states, the Golden Owl Award has grown significantly, now spanning 13 states with plans for further expansion. The 2024-2025 program honored 96 outstanding agricultural educators, bringing the total to 384 teachers recognized since its inception. To date, the Golden Owl Award program has awarded over $600,000 to support and enhance agricultural education.

“Ag educators are at the center of equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge to innovate and drive the future of the agriculture industry,” said Nationwide Chief Agriculture and Sponsor Relations Officer Devin Fuhrman.

Each year, select honorees, chosen by established state committees, are awarded $500^1,2 in recognition of their contributions. The Agricultural Educator of the Year in each state receives an additional $3,000^1,2 and the esteemed Golden Owl Award trophy. Nationwide also contributes $5,000 to each of the participating state FFA organizations.

“We see the Golden Owl Award as the perfect way to raise awareness of the contributions that ag educators make every single day in and outside of the classroom,” Fuhrman said. “It’s recognizing what all ag educators do to ready this generation of leaders to take agriculture to the next level.”

Get involved with the Golden Owl Award

The Golden Owl Award invites nominations for outstanding agricultural educators, open to anyone who wishes to recognize their impact. Submissions are welcome from the general public, current or former students, parents, colleagues, school administrators, and community members. To see past winners and honorees or to learn more about the nomination process in select states, visit goldenowlaward.com.