Bondy Honored With Missouri FFA's First Golden Owl Award

Paris FFA Adviser Josh Bondy (third from left) stands with his family and organizers of the Golden Owl Award, after being name the recipient of the inaugural prize. (Photo by Kyle Hill, Alpha Ag Network)

17 years after venturing away from his home county to take over a rebuilding program, Paris FFA adviser Josh Bondy has received a new award recognizing his years of mentoring and developing ag leaders. Bondy emerged ahead of six fellow ag educators to become Missouri’s first winner of the Golden Owl Award, established by the Missouri FFA Foundation and presented by Nationwide Insurance. He spoke to Regional Radio after picking up the award and $3000 cash prize.

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Bondy reflects further on being Missouri’s inaugural winner.

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Since taking the reins at Paris, Bondy has advised the organization to national chapter of the year honors, witnessed five chapter members become state officers, and brought several teams to nationals. However, he says the biggest reward comes not from the plaques his students collect, but the lessons they have learned to become better people.

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Paris FFA Adviser Josh Bondy represented the Northeast District and was one of seven finalists, each of whom received $500. Over 400 nominations were submitted in the award’s first year, with a finalist chosen from each of six districts in the state, as well as an ag instructor from a post-secondary institution.

2024 Missouri Golden Owl Finalists
Josh Bondy, Paris
Ashley Brown, Bolivar
Sherry Byram, Owensville
Jason Dieckhoff, Cass Career Center
Brad Driskill, State Fair Community College
Amy Holder, Gallatin
Rich Thomas, Oak Ridge