Nominations open for Golden Owl Award honoring agricultural educators
Kansans can help recognize the agriculture teachers who are shaping the next generation of leaders by nominating them for the 2027 Kansas Golden Owl Award. Nominations are open through Dec. 31.
Presented by Nationwide and the Kansas FFA Foundation, the annual award honors agricultural educators whose commitment, innovation, and mentorship make a lasting difference for students, schools, and communities. Current and former students, parents, fellow educators, school administrators and community members may submit nominations.
Eligible nominees must be Kansas-licensed educators currently teaching agricultural education at the high school level. Nominators will provide contact information and information describing the educator’s dedication to agricultural education, commitment to students, and impact on young people.
“Kansas agriculture teachers do far more than deliver classroom lessons. They help students discover their strengths, build career-ready skills, and see a future for themselves in agriculture and their communities,” said Beth Gaines, executive director of the Kansas FFA Foundation. “The Golden Owl Award gives Kansans a meaningful way to thank an educator whose influence may be felt for generations. We encourage students, families, colleagues and community members to tell that teacher’s story.”
After the nomination period closes, a selection committee will name seven finalists, one representing each Kansas FFA district. Each recipient will receive an engraved plaque and $500. One teacher will be selected as the 2027 Kansas Agricultural Educator of the Year and will receive the Golden Owl Award trophy and an additional $3,000. The statewide winner will be announced during the Kansas FFA State Convention.
“Agricultural educators are so much more than teachers; they are community servants who are shaping the leaders of tomorrow,” said Brad Liggett, president of agribusiness at Nationwide. “Together with our partners, we encourage students, parents, fellow teachers, and other community members to nominate their agricultural teachers to acknowledge their hard work.”
Nominations may be submitted at https://ksffa.org/awards-scholarships/golden-owl-award. In conjunction with the award, Nationwide will donate $5,000 to the Kansas FFA Foundation to support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers, and advisors across Kansas.
Launched in 2018, the Golden Owl Award has grown from two states to 16 and has provided more than $800,000 to support teachers, students, school agricultural education programs, and FFA organizations.