Indiana FFA Names 8 Finalists for Golden Owl Ag Educator Award

The winner will be revealed at the 97th Indiana FFA State Convention in June.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Indiana FFA Organization has announced the eight finalists for the prestigious Golden Owl Award, honoring the 2025–2026 Indiana Ag Educator of the Year. The finalists will each receive a personalized plaque and $500, with the overall winner taking home the coveted Golden Owl trophy and an additional $3,000 to support future classroom and program initiatives.

Why it matters

The Golden Owl Award is a prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding agricultural educators in Indiana, celebrating their contributions to the personal and professional growth of FFA students. As part of the program, Nationwide will also donate $5,000 to the Indiana FFA to help strengthen educational initiatives statewide.

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, with the overall winner to be revealed during the 97th Indiana FFA State Convention in Noblesville this June.

  • 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 Indiana FFA Organization is responsible for administering the Golden Owl Award and selecting the finalists and winner.

Nationwide

Nationwide is the sponsor of the Golden Owl Award and will donate $5,000 to the Indiana FFA to support educational initiatives.

Farm Credit Mid-America

Farm Credit Mid-America is a co-sponsor of the Golden Owl Award.

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What’s next

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

The takeaway

The Golden Owl Award is a prestigious recognition that highlights the vital role agricultural educators play in the personal and professional development of FFA students in Indiana. The finalists and eventual winner demonstrate the high caliber of teaching talent in the state's agricultural education programs.