Educators devote limitless time, and often their own resources, to helping students pursue their passions. To recognize the contributions of South Dakota’s leading agricultural teachers, the South Dakota FFA Foundation and Nationwide are honoring eight exceptional teachers as finalists for the Golden Owl Award.
From October 1-December 31, 2025, nominations were collected for the state’s top agricultural teachers from local students, parents, fellow teachers and community members across South Dakota.
South Dakota’s 2025-2026 Golden Owl Award finalists are:
District 1: Adam Koll, Florence (pictured with Florence FFA members & Mr Jim Chilson, former Florence FFA Advisor)
District 2: Dave VanderWal, De Smet (pictured with De Smet FFA members)
District 3: Malynda Penner, Freeman (pictured with Nationwide representative Colton Tobin (in black cap) and Freeman FFA Chapter members)
District 4: Susan Roudabush, Ethan (pictured with Nationwide representative Nikki Bialas Ethan and FFA Chapter members)
District 5: Austin Bishop, Belle Fourche (pictured with Belle Fourche FFA Chapter members)
District 6: Shane Gross, Hitchcock-Tulare (pictured with Hitchcock Tulare FFA members)
District 7: Josh Christiansen, Harrisburg (pictured with Harrisburg FFA members)
District 8: Renae Gebhart (pictured with Mercedes Snedeker, State Advisor)
Each finalist was presented with an individualized plaque in front of fellow teachers and students and received a $500 check to support future educational efforts. Next, they’ll be entered into a final selection stage for the chance to be crowned as South Dakota’s Ag Educator of the Year, earning an additional $3,000 Nationwide-funded check and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.
“Our teachers are the foundation of the FFA. They inspire our members every day, providing them encouragement and motivation to try new things. They coordinate early morning practices, dedicate weekends to FFA events, model a passion for serving others, and endlessly help students grow their passion for agriculture. We are so thankful Nationwide recognizes the valuable work our teachers do and provides this award,” shares Sandy Osterday, SD FFA Foundation Board President.
Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award to honor the contributions of teachers and support their programs with additional resources to assist their continued educational efforts. This year, the award program honors outstanding ag educators in 15 states: California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Utah.
“As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, we are proud to thank and honor these hardworking agricultural teachers for their dedication,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “These educators play a crucial role in preparing students for successful careers in the industry.”
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