Awesome Ag Educators
To celebrate the company’s agricultural roots and support the growing interest in careers supporting farming, agribusiness and environmental stewardship, Nationwide recognizes top agricultural educators each year for their work to inspire and enrich students’ lives. Launched in 2018 in just two states, the Golden Owl Award now partners with FFA organizations in 15 states. Each winner earns the title of Ag Educator of the Year in their state and receives the Golden Owl Award trophy as well as $3,000 for their agriculture programs. Nationwide also awards $5,000 to each of the state FFA organization.
Let’s congratulate the 2025-26 crop of winners.
Russell Zimmerman, California
Russell Zimmerman graduated with a bachelor of science degree in plant science and a master’s degree in agricultural education from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and has been an agricultural education teacher for eight years. He currently teaches at Nipomo High School, where he regularly puts in extra time before school, during lunch and after school to help prepare students for speaking events and competitions. In recent years, the Nipomo FFA Chapter has had a number of state champion career development event (CDE) teams.
Mark Breeding, Delaware
Working as an agriculture educator for nearly three decades, Mark Breeding is an expert at integrating science, technology, leadership and career exploration into his classes. He emphasizes hands-on learning through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) and partnerships with local businesses and community organizations. Since 2019, he’s been teaching at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Del., where the FFA chapter’s livestock evaluation team recently won top honors at the state competition.
Zachary Morris, Iowa
A graduate of Iowa State University, Zachary Morris has worked as an agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor for 16 years at West Liberty High School. He has also been on the Iowa Association of Agricultural Educators, serving two terms as vice president and then president in 2023. During Morris’ time leading the FFA chapter, it has won numerous Iowa FFA career and leadership development event (CDE/LDE) championships, made multiple National FFA appearances and received a National 3-Star Chapter designation for 15 straight years.
Joe Steffen, Illinois
Joe Steffen grew up on a small grain and livestock farm and served as vice president and president of his high school’s FFA chapter. After graduating from Illinois State University, he accepted a job as an agriculture teacher in Newark, Ill., where he still teaches today. Throughout his 30-plus year career, he’s advised section proficiency winners, district winners, state winners and national finalists and winners. The FFA chapter has 23 American FFA Degree recipients and two individual state CDE winners.
Lynnette Markley, Indiana
Lynnette Markley’s 31-year career in agricultural education has brought her to Central Noble, Warsaw, John Glenn and now Argos Jr.-Sr. High School. A graduate of Purdue University, she’s held several leadership roles, including District II IAAE representative for 16 years and District II treasurer representative for 15 years. Under Markley’s guidance, the Argos FFA membership has grown from 47 members to 83. Recently, the chapter’s food science demo team won state, and its animal science demo team placed third.
Dr. Kelly Rae Hoelting, Kansas
An agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Mission Valley Unified School District 330 in Eskridge, Kan., Hoelting graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education, a master of science in curriculum development and instruction and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. She previously served as a president of the Kansas Association of Agricultural Educators and earned the Honorary American FFA Degree from National FFA. Under her leadership, the Mission Valley FFA Chapter grew from 45 members to 138 students and produced seven national proficiency finalists.
Ben Prevette, Kentucky
During his 12 years teaching at Hopkins County Central High School, Ben Prevette has overseen a successful greenhouse program, installed a sweet corn and melon plot, earned grants to purchase a plasma table and new welders and offered students welding certification through the American Welding Society. Recently, the FFA chapter has introduced a new program where students care for beef cattle owned by the ag department. Some of these cattle will be used for breeding calves, while others will be processed for the school cafeteria.
Becky Yost, Maryland
Becky Yost attended Northern Garrett High School before returning 12 years ago to teach agriculture classes at the school. She helped organize community sponsorships and alumni fundraising to allow the school to demolish and rebuild their barn — and made sure the students contributed to the effort as well. Yost also oversaw greenhouse improvements and shop classroom enhancements. Since Yost has been North Garrett’s FFA advisor, the chapter has grown to be the school’s largest student group.
Jarred Sayre, Missouri
Jarred Sayre has been teaching for the past 26 years at his alma mater, Milan C-2 High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree and master of science degree from the University of Missouri and has measured his success over his 30 years of teaching not by awards and recognition but by the growth and confidence of his students. Sayre’s goal is to help students reach their full potential; this past year, the chapter had several teams reached state competitions.
Tony Jensen, Nebraska
Tony Jensen’s passion for FFA began in high school when he joined the Elgin FFA Chapter and served as an FFA state officer. He’s been an agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Freeman High School for the past 21 years. Under his guidance, FFA students have achieved great success in local, state and national competitions. The chapter gives back to the community by planting a community garden and donating the produce to neighbors in need.
Mary Coolbaugh, New York
An agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Marcus Whitman Central School, Mary Coolbaugh has earned the respect of her students and the wider community. Students describe her classroom as a launchpad of opportunity where every student is valued. Agriculture classes at the school include agricultural communications, floriculture, ag mechanics and food science. FFA members are involved in a wide variety of activities, such as showing animals at the county fair, making maple syrup and holding a car wash as an annual fundraiser.
Alex Zimmer, Ohio
At Buckeye Valley High School, Alex Zimmer strives to help the school’s agriculture program and FFA chapter meet community needs. There he leads the Buckeye Valley’s Farmers Feed Our Needs initiative, which supports the local food pantry. Zimmer also focuses on creating hands-on learning opportunities through the William H. Powell Land Lab, an Agriscience Field Day and student entrepreneurship activities. His students have found success in FFA degrees, proficiency awards and CDEs at the state and national levels.
Doug Masser, Pennsylvania
Doug Masser is committed to making agriculture accessible to every student. At Pequea Valley High School, he has developed a required agriculture course for all 10th graders, helped grow the ag department into a three-teacher program and helped the school earn Pennsylvania and Region VI Outstanding Agricultural Education Program honors in 2022. The FFA chapter recently had 24 members participating in seven CDEs/LDEs at the state convention.
Dave VanderWal, South Dakota
A graduate of South Dakota State University, Dave VanderWal has more than 30 years of teaching experience at the De Smet School District. He works with middle and high school students and serves as an FFA advisor. VanderWal guides students in a variety of hands-on and service-learning projects, including work in the greenhouse and on construction projects. He’s served as the FFA livestock show superintendent and has mentored multiple high-performing land judging teams and state and district FFA officers.
Chad Warnick, Utah
After graduating from Utah State University, Chad Warnick headed back to his high school, Delta Technical Center, to teach plant science, biology, leadership and floriculture, and serve as the FFA advisor. Warnick oversees two greenhouses and helped build a school’s livestock facility where students can work with cattle, pigs and goats. The FFA chapter’s summer ag program recently found members visiting a nearby greenhouse, setting up a make-and-take floral activity and planting pumpkins for a biggest-pumpkin competition.
