Missouri Teacher Named “Ag Educator of the Year”
Josh Bondy from Paris High School honored as Missouri’s Golden Owl Award®
2023-2024 grand prize winner
Columbia, MO– As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, the ag teachers who go above and beyond in educating America’s youth and future leaders are more important than ever. In Missouri, seven exceptional ag teachers were recently named as finalists of the 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award® for their positive impact in the classroom and communities they serve. Of the finalists, Josh Bondy, an agricultural teacher at Paris, Missouri was named Missouri’s grand prize winner and 2023-2024 Ag Educator of the Year.
Nationwide, in partnership with the Missouri FFA Foundation recognized Bondy as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner during the Missouri FFA State Convention. In addition to the title of Missouri’s Ag Educator of the Year, Bondy received the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and a $3,000 cash prize.
Bondy’s nominations described him as tireless in his efforts to revolutionize agriculture education. One nomination described him as “always willing to give his time and service to boards and committees aimed at improving agriculture education.” While another shared “he’s an exceptional mentor to young teachers and a source of support for experienced teachers. His passion for agriculture transcends the classroom as he instills a profound understanding of agriculture and its crucial importance and impact on the local community in his students and others.”
This was the inaugural year for the Golden Owl Award program in Missouri. Heather Dimitt-Fletcher, the executive director of the Missouri FFA Foundation shared that “The Golden Owl Award is directly related to the foundation’s vision of cultivating the next generation of leaders for the agricultural industry and our communities. High quality teachers are integral to that vision and a program that recognizes our best teachers is essential.”
As the number one insurer of farms and ranches in the U.S.1, Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award with its state partners to shed light on the contributions of the country’s leading agricultural teachers and provide additional resources to support their programs.
“Nationwide is proud to recognize the dedicated teachers who are educating and inspiring students to pursue careers in agriculture,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “We’re honored to have the opportunity to appreciate their contributions, highlight the growing need for their services, and supply additional resources to help provide their students with optimal learning experiences.”
Nationwide supports the future of the ag community through meaningful sponsorships of national and local organizations. In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide also donated $5,000 to the Missouri FFA Foundation, to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers and advisors alike.
For more information, visit www.goldenowlaward.com.
1 Source: A.M. Best Market Share Report 2022
About Missouri FFA Foundation
The Missouri FFA Foundation secures strategic partnerships and financial resources to enhance, strengthen, and support the educational and leadership opportunities that promote premier leadership, personal growth, and career success for Missourians in Agricultural Education. As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of directors. www.missouriffa.org/foundation
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Josh Bondy, Jade Rodemeyer (sponsor)