Who will be Iowa’s next top agriculture educator of the year? The nominating period for the 2023-24 Golden Owl Award honoring excellence in agriculture education is now open for submissions.
Sponsored by the Iowa FFA Foundation, Nationwide Insurance and other partners in agriculture, the annual Golden Owl Award celebrates the outstanding work of agriculture education leaders in Iowa. Students, fellow teachers, faculty and other partners are invited to submit nominations for exceptional ag educators who have made a difference.
“Iowa has some of the best agriculture educators in the country,” said Matthew Eddy, Iowa FFA state adviser and agriculture education consultant at the Iowa Department of Education. “They are making an impact with students and communities and are providing high-quality, hands-on learning opportunities. It’s important that we recognize their outstanding work.”
Seven finalists for the award will be selected in early 2024. Each finalist will receive a $500 prize, a commemorative engraved plaque and the chance to be named as Iowa’s top agriculture educator. A grand prize of $3,000 and the Golden Owl trophy will be presented to the winner at the Iowa FFA Convention next April.
In recent years, nominations for the award have seen record numbers of over 400 submissions. The 2022-23 Golden Owl awardee was Emily Kruse from North Scott Community School District.
“We’d love to keep breaking the record and see even more nominations come in this year,” Eddy said. “Your nomination itself helps celebrate Iowa’s ag educators.”
Nominations for the Golden Owl Award will be accepted through Dec. 1.