South Dakota FFA Opened Golden Owl Award Nominations
The program has expanded to sixteen states to honor excellence among agricultural educators.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Financial Aid
Live Poll
Do you believe your local schools place enough emphasis on agricultural education and training?
The South Dakota FFA Foundation has officially opened nominations for the 2026-2027 Golden Owl Award. This initiative recognizes agricultural teachers who excel in preparing students for careers within the industry.
Why it matters
The program highlights the vital role agricultural educators play in workforce development for the farming sector. By honoring these teachers, the foundation aims to celebrate their impact on students and the future of agriculture.
The Golden Owl Award has distributed over $600,000 in total funds since its inception. Last year, the program recorded more than 4,600 nominations across 13 states.
The players
South Dakota FFA Foundation
This organization supports agricultural education and leadership development for students in South Dakota.
The details
Individuals can submit nominations for outstanding agricultural teachers directly through the South Dakota FFA Foundation website. The program continues to grow, recently adding Delaware and Utah to its list of participating states.
Timeline
Nominations for the Golden Owl Award opened on October 1, 2026.
The 2025-2026 program recognized 107 teachers and 15 Ag Educators of the Year.
Nominations will close for the current award cycle on December 31, 2026.
Culture Shift
The expansion of the Golden Owl Award to new states like Delaware and Utah reflects a growing cultural focus on recognizing vocational excellence in agricultural education. This shift highlights a national trend of elevating the prestige of trade-focused academic roles.
Residents and students in South Dakota can participate by submitting nominations for teachers who have significantly impacted their educational experience. Engaging in this process helps ensure that local agricultural leaders receive the public recognition they deserve.
The takeaway
Recognizing educators through established award programs helps foster continued excellence in vocational training. Supporters are encouraged to identify impactful teachers early to ensure they meet the upcoming year-end deadline.
What happens next
Nominations will officially close on December 31, 2026, marking the end of the submission window for the 2026-2027 award cycle.
Further reading
For additional context on programs supporting students and educators, visit the Financial Aid section.
More information
Submit your nominations via the Golden Owl Award nomination portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by DRGNews.
Live Poll
Do you believe your local schools place enough emphasis on agricultural education and training?
