Local Advisors Compete for Golden Owl
Published: Friday, May 8, 2026
Four local FFA advisors are slated against each other for the coveted Golden Owl Award, which will be awarded during the Indiana FFA Convention in June.
Among the eight Indiana nominees are: Lynnette Markley, Argos High School; Michael Jones, Tippecanoe Valley High School; Rebekah Peterson, DeKalb High School; and Chris Kaufman, Westfield High School.
As interest grows in careers supporting farming, agribusiness and environmental stewardship, agricultural education programs are experiencing a surge in student enrollment—alongside mounting challenges. A growing shortage of qualified teachers entering and remaining in the profession continues to place pressure on the future of these programs.
To help address this trend, Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award in partnership with state FFA organizations to celebrate excellence in agricultural education and invest directly in programs that help keep learning accessible for students across the country.
Following more than 4,900 nominations across 15 states for the 2025–26 Golden Owl Award, Nationwide and its partners are proud to honor 107 educators as finalists.
"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."
Since its inception in 2018, the Golden Owl Award has supplied more than $800,000 to support teachers, students, school agricultural programs and FFA organizations. This year, the award expanded to two new states—Delaware and Utah—due to its positive impact and popularity.
Each year, the selected honorees, chosen by established state committees, are awarded $500 in recognition of their contributions. One finalist in each state is then selected as the Ag Educator of the Year and receives an additional $3,000 and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy. Nationwide also contributes $5,000 to each of the participating state FFA organizations.
Other Indiana finalists include: Mike Shirey, Heritage High School; Zoe-Ann Chernowsky, Blue River Valley High School; McCord Snider, East Central Middle School; and Emily Russ, Clinton Prairie High School.
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