Indiana FFA Announces 8 Finalists for Golden Owl Ag Educator Award

The prestigious honor recognizes the 2025-2026 Indiana Ag Educator of the Year.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Indiana FFA Organization has unveiled the eight finalists for the coveted Golden Owl Award, which honors the 2025–2026 Indiana Ag Educator of the Year. The finalists were selected from a pool of 114 total nominees.

Why it matters

The Golden Owl Award is one of the highest honors for agricultural educators in Indiana, recognizing excellence in teaching, mentorship, and leadership. The winner will receive additional funding to support their classroom and program initiatives, while the Indiana FFA will also receive a $5,000 donation to strengthen statewide student, teacher, and advisor development.

The details

The eight finalists for the 2025-2026 Golden Owl Award are Zoeann Chernowsky (Blue River Valley), Mike Jones (Tippecanoe Valley), Chris Kaufman (Westfield), Lynette Markley (Argos), Rebekah Peterson (DeKalb), Emily Russ (Clinton Prairie), Mike Shirey (Heritage), and McCord Snider (William Henry Harrison). Each finalist will receive a personalized plaque and a $500 award. The overall winner, to be announced at the 97th Indiana FFA State Convention in June, will receive the coveted Golden Owl trophy and an additional $3,000 in funding.

  • The eight finalists were announced on March 9, 2026.
  • The winner will be revealed during the 97th Indiana FFA State Convention in June 2026.

The players

Indiana FFA Organization

The state-level chapter of the National FFA Organization, dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers for the agriculture industry.

Nationwide

The insurance and financial services company sponsoring the Golden Owl Award program.

Farm Credit Mid-America

The agricultural lending cooperative also sponsoring the Golden Owl Award.

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What’s next

The winner of the 2025-2026 Golden Owl Award will be announced during the 97th Indiana FFA State Convention in June 2026.

The takeaway

The Golden Owl Award highlights the vital role agricultural educators play in developing future leaders and innovators for the farming industry. This year's finalists represent the best of Indiana's ag education community and the state's commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural professionals.