Nationwide News: Hanford teacher wins Ag Educator of the Year award

A teacher at Hanford High School in Kings County has been honored as California’s 2022-23 Ag Educator of the Year.

Jason Ferreira received the Golden Owl Award during the California FFA State Leadership Conference in Ontario on March 18.

“Receiving the Golden Owl Award reminds me of the powerful impact that FFA advisors have on our community,” Ferreira said after winning the top educator prize. “I am humbled and proud to be a positive representative for California agricultural education.”

Award finalists included: Brian Kim of Sunny Hills High School; Emily Brown of Corning Union High School; Celeste Morino of Ripon High School; Beth Swehla of Anderson Valley High School; and Lauren Peterson of King City High School.

The Golden Owl Award comes with a $3,000 Nationwide-funded donation to the agricultural education program of the honored teacher. Each finalist receives a $500 donation to support future educational efforts. Nationwide is also donating $5,000 to the California FFA Foundation.

Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award to shed light on the contributions of California’s leading agricultural teachers. The award is given in partnership with the California FFA Foundation and the California Farm Bureau.

“As a company deeply rooted in agriculture, we are proud to collaborate with our state partners to recognize outstanding agriculture teachers, who are not only critical to the communities they serve but also to the farming industry as a whole,” said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness.