SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California FFA Foundation, in partnership with Nationwide and the California Farm Bureau, has announced Marc DeBernardi, an agricultural teacher at Santa Maria High School, as California’s 2024-2025 “Ag Educator of the Year.”
DeBernardi was formally recognized as the Golden Owl Award grand prize winner during the California FFA State Leadership Conference in Sacramento on April 4. In addition to the title of California’s Ag Educator of the Year, DeBernardi received the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy and a $3,000 Nationwide-funded donation to further invest in Santa Maria High School’s agricultural education efforts.
Upon receiving the award, DeBernardi expressed heartfelt appreciation for his supportive community.”It’s an honor to be recognized by the California FFA Foundation, California Farm Bureau, and Nationwide for the work we do in agricultural education. It’s truly been a privilege. I’ve taught for 29 years, and during that time, I’ve had the opportunity to serve not only my students but also California FFA. It’s been a joy—I love what I do, and it’s a rewarding profession.”
Each Golden Owl Award finalist was also presented with an individualized plaque in front of more than 7,500 attendees at the California FFA State Leadership Conference and received a $500 donation to support future educational efforts. The finalists were:
- Carrie Phillips, Altaville-Bret Harte FFA
- Lori Porter, Livermore FFA
- Vernon Clark, Bakersfield-Foothill FFA
- Krystal Thomas, San Marcos FFA
- Jim Shanks, Dorris-Butte Valley FFA
DeBernardi’s passion for agriculture and his commitment to his students have made him an outstanding educator, and his recognition is well-deserved. The individual who nominated DeBernardi described him as a driving force in agricultural education, dedicating himself to student success through hands-on learning and mentorship. Whether coaching state champion judging teams, mentoring future industry leaders, or developing SAE projects through community partnerships, DeBernardi ensures students gain real-world experience. His ability to connect with students—especially those who may not have initially seen themselves in FFA—has left a lasting legacy in the community and beyond.
As the number one insurer of farms and ranches in the United States, Nationwide established the Golden Owl Award with its state partners to highlight the contributions of California’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.”
In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is also donating $5,000 to the California FFA Foundation to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers, and advisors alike.
The Golden Owl Award is the result of partnerships between Nationwide, the California FFA Foundation, and the California Farm Bureau.
For more information about the Golden Owl Award and the California FFA Foundation’s efforts to support agricultural education, visit calaged.org.
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About the California FFA Foundation
California FFA Foundation serves more than 105,000 California students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.
About the California Farm Bureau
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members. Learn more at cfbf.com.
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 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 and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Subscribe today to receive the latest news from Nationwide and follow Nationwide PR on X.
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