Shasta County ag teacher wins top educator honor

Rick Neugebauer, an agriculture teacher at Fall River Junior-Senior High School in Shasta County, has won the Golden Owl Award as California’s 2023-2024 Ag Educator of the Year.

The annual honor is awarded by the California FFA Foundation in partnership with Nationwide and the California Farm Bureau.

Neugebauer was formally recognized as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner during the California FFA State Leadership Conference in Sacramento on March 22.

The prize includes a $ 3,000 Nationwide donation to support Fall River Junior-Senior High School’s agricultural education efforts.

Neugebauer was nominated for the award by a fellow teacher at the school in the rural ranching community of McArthur. He was lauded for his 24 years of dedication to the agriculture program, including mentoring numerous students who went on to serve as regional and state officers for California FFA.

Neugebauer said he was “deeply honored and humbled by this recognition.”

“This award represents the collective effort of an entire community dedicated to educating and guiding the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “It reflects the unwavering support and belief of everyone within the Fall River/McArthur Valley. I am honored to continue my service and contribute positively to the growth and development of the students at Fall River Junior-Senior High School and McArthur FFA.”

Five other California teachers earned honors as Golden Owl Award finalists, receiving $500 donations to support future educational efforts.

The finalists include: Daniel Crookham, of Exeter FFA in Tulare County; Rebecca Freeman of Lodi-Tokay FFA in San Joaquin County; Randy Mendes of St. Helena FFA in Napa County; Deanna Morton of Shandon FFA in San Luis Obispo County; and Marlisa Nordstrom of Buena Park FFA in Orange County.

“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.”

In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is also donating $5,000 to the California FFA Foundation.