Prairie High School Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Laura Brecht has been honored with the 2024-2025 Iowa Ag Educator of the Year Golden Owl Award. The announcement was made at the 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames, where Brecht also received $3,000 from the Iowa FFA Foundation.

The Golden Owl Award, presented by the Iowa FFA Foundation and Nationwide, recognizes agricultural educators across Iowa for their tremendous contributions to helping the next generation of agricultural leaders.  This award measures the impact an educator has had during the past school year.

Brecht has significantly expanded Prairie’s agriculture program during her tenure. In less than five years, the program has grown to become the 4th largest FFA chapter in Iowa, with student enrollment rising from about 146 to 250. The Iowa FFA Leadership Conference, which took place in Ames from April 13-15, hosted nearly 7,000 FFA members and guests for career exploration, competitions, and leadership development.