Honoring Ohio’s Ag Educator of the Year

During December and January, 10 agricultural educators are being named as Golden Owl Award finalists in surprise ceremonies throughout the state.

Presented by Nationwide, Ohio FFA and Ohio Farm Bureau, the Golden Owl Award honors educators for their outstanding contributions in helping future agricultural leaders.

Nominations were accepted through November 2018. The 10 teachers who have been selected as Golden Owl honorees receive a $500 prize and entrance into the final selection stage. One honoree then will be chosen for the grand prize, the Golden Owl Award and $3,000.

The Golden Owl Award winner will be announced in April.

NOTE: This post will be updated as the finalists are announced.

Congratulations to the finalists:

Dave Stiles, Indian Valley High

golden-owl-stiles
Pictured: Nationwide Sponsor Relations Account Executive Shawnda Vega, OFBF Organization Director Michele Specht, Indian Valley High FFA President Clayton Sprowl, finalist Dave Stiles, Nationwide Agent Don Kemp, Indian Valley High Principal Robert Clark and Alyssa Bregel FFA State Supervisor/Ohio Department of Education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Conway, Bowling Green High School 

Stephanie Conway
Stephanie Conway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Poulson, Pettisville High School 

 John Poulson
John Poulson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Eisenhauer, Shelby High School 

Randy Eisenhauer
Randy Eisenhauer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erin Wollett, Cardington-Lincoln High School 

Erin Wollett
Erin Wollett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Spahr, Greene County Career Center 

Michael Spahr
Michael Spahr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Holton, East Knox Junior-Senior High School 

Tom Holton
Tom Holton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelby Faulkner, Ridgemont High School 

From left are Nationwide's Shawnda Vega, Genny Haun from Ohio Farm Bureau, honoree Shelby Faulkner, Jessica Parrish of Ohio FFA, Nationwide agent Beryl Rogers Dudek and Principal Erica Okeeffee.
Pictured are Nationwide Sponsor Relations Account Executive Shawnda Vega, Hardin County Farm Bureau Trustee Genny Haun, honoree Shelby Faulkner, Jessica Parrish of Ohio FFA, Nationwide agent Beryl Rogers Dudek and Principal Erica Okeeffee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly Jennings, Felicity-Franklin High School 

Holly Jennings
Holly Jennings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katrina Swinehart, Central State University

goldenowl
John Henry, Central State University – Dir of Ag Education; Shawnda Vega, Nationwide – Sponsor Relations; Devin Fuhrman, Nationwide – VP Sponsor Relations; honoree Katrina Swinehart; Ashley Rose, OFBF; Alyssa Bregel, Ohio FFA; Tim Hicks, OFBF
Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
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Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

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Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
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Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
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Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

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Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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