Dora ag teacher chosen as semi-finalist from 400 nominees for special award
Dora ag teacher Paula Bodenhamer, left, watches student Jayce Turner cut a horseshoe for a school project. Bodenhamer has been selected as a semi-finalist in the prestigious Missouri Golden Owl program, which recognizes outstanding Missouri ag educators across the state.
Dora School ag teacher Paula Bodenhamer was selected as one of the semi-finalists for the prestigious Missouri Golden Owl Award. Bodenhamer earned the recognition because of her “outstanding dedication to students, commitment to agriculture education and positive impact on both the community and the agriculture industry,” according to a press release from program organizers.
“Educators devote limitless time, and often their own resources, to helping students pursue their passions. To recognize the contributions of Missouri’s leading agricultural teachers, Nationwide [Mutual Insurance Company] and the Missouri FFA Foundation are honoring exceptional teachers as semi-finalists for the Missouri Golden Owl Award,” it states.
This was the inaugural year for the Golden Owl Award contest in Missouri. From Sept. 20 through Dec. 31, 2023, nominations were collected for the state’s top agricultural teachers from local students, parents, fellow teachers and community members across Missouri. Nearly 400 nominations were received.
As a semi-finalist, Bodenhamer is now eligible to move on to the second round of the state competition where seven state finalists will be chosen.
Each finalist will receive a plaque and a $500 prize. Finalists will then have the chance to be named as Missouri’s Ag Educator of the Year at the Missouri FFA State Convention, earning an additional $3,000 prize and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy.
“The Missouri FFA Foundation is proud to partner with Nationwide to establish the inaugural Golden Owl Award program in Missouri,” said Heather Dimitt-Fletcher, executive director of the Missouri FFA Foundation. “Agriculture is one of Missouri’s top industries. Our agriculture education teachers are outstanding at preparing our students to be the workforce that drives that industry. Missouri agriculture education is consistently recognized as one of the top in the country and our teachers are a primary reason for that distinction. Education is a demanding field. One of the objectives of the Missouri FFA Foundation is to find ways to support and honor our teachers. The Golden Owl Award program is one way to achieve that objective.”
Nationally established, the Golden Owl Award aims to recognize the contributions of agriculture teachers and thank them for their continued educational efforts.
“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.”