Awards Descriptions

Outstanding Early Career Teacher – one winner per state
As a means of encouraging young teachers to remain in the profession and to recognize participation in professional activities, the NAAE Outstanding Young Member Award program is sponsored by John Deere as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. NAAE members who have completed at least three but not more than six years of teaching are eligible to apply for this award; members who are currently in their sixth year of teaching are eligible to apply.

Outstanding Teacher – one winner per state
This program recognizes NAAE members who are at the pinnacle of their profession—those who are conducting the highest quality agricultural education programs. The award recognizes leadership in civic, community, agriculture/agribusiness and professional activities. Outstanding agricultural educators are innovators and catalysts for student success in agricultural education.

Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program – one winner per state
A goal of NAAE is to promote outstanding programs in agricultural education and effectively communicate success stories. The Outstanding Middle/Secondary School Ag Ed Program Award promulgates that goal. Agricultural education programs in middle schools and secondary schools are eligible to participate in this recognition program.

Outstanding Postsecondary/Adult Program – one winner per state
The Outstanding Postsecondary/Adult Ag Ed Program award recognizes exemplary 2-year postsecondary institutions and full time young farmer and adult agricultural education programs. Qualifying young farmer and/or adult ag ed program staff must devote at least 50 percent of their teaching time to this level of instruction.

Teachers Turn the Key – one winner per state
Agricultural education is continually faced with a shortage of qualified teachers. Unless those who have been trained enter and remain in the profession for a period of several years, the shortage of qualified teachers will prevail. As a means of encouraging young teachers to remain in the profession and to encourage and recognize participation in professional activities, NAAE offers the Teachers Turn the Key Scholarship. Those currently teaching years 1 - 3 are eligible to apply.

Teacher Mentor– one winner per state
If you ask agriculture teachers what motivated them to enter and stay in the teaching profession, predominately they will attribute their decision to another agriculture teacher who encouraged them. Many state agricultural education associations have recognized the importance of positive relationships between beginning and experienced teachers by creating formal organizational structures to connect beginning and experienced teachers. This award program will provide additional incentives for experienced teachers to become mentors for beginning teachers, and it will provide beginning teachers a way to say thank you to the experienced teachers who have influenced them.

Ideas Unlimited- one winner per state
The Ideas Unlimited contest is designed to give members an opportunity to exchange classroom, SAE, leadership, and other teaching ideas. The idea may be original or borrowed. Each application should specify how the idea was used by the applicant and how the idea could help others in their teaching. Applicants are to bring a presentation to the Summer Agriculture Teachers Workshop and Conference.

Outstanding Cooperator – one winner per state
NAAE recognizes organizations, agribusiness companies, and others who have given outstanding support to agricultural education with the Outstanding Cooperation Award.

Outstanding Service Citation – one winner per state
NAAE will recognize current and retired NAAE members who have made significant contributions to agricultural education at the state, regional, and national levels with the Outstanding Service Citation.

Lifetime Achievement – one winner per state
NAAE will recognize retired NAAE members who have made significant contributions to agricultural education at the state, regional, and national levels with Lifetime Achievement Award.