Cedar Rapids Prairie teacher named Iowa's 2025 Golden Owl Award Winner

Laura Brecht, an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Cedar Rapids Prairie, was overcome with joy in March when she was announced as one of seven finalists for the prestigious Golden Owl Award, given annually to Iowa's top agricultural educator.

Her joy reached an even higher pinnacle on April 14 as she stood on the Hilton Coliseum stage at the 2025 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in front of nearly 7,000 FFA members and heard her name announced as the Golden Owl Award winner.

"I feel that I was born to teach and being recognized for doing something that I've always wanted to do is really special," Brecht said.

Sponsored by Nationwide Insurance through the Iowa FFA Foundation, the Golden Owl Award recognizes outstanding work in agricultural education and promotes the importance of the field. This year, a record 570 nominations were submitted for 131 exceptional agricultural educators in secondary and postsecondary education across Iowa, with the winner receiving $3,000 from   Nationwide Insurance.

"We're incredibly proud to have her at Prairie," said College Community School District superintendent Doug Wheeler. "She's been instrumental. Our program is only about five years old, so she's creating a legacy there, and we're really excited to see her recognized for that."

That legacy includes rapidly expanding Prairie's agriculture program during her tenure, which led to opening a new agriculture building. In less than five years, the program has grown to become the fourth-largest FFA chapter in Iowa, with student participation rising by more than 71 percent.

But outside of the tangible metrics and trajectory of Prairie's agriculture programs, Brecht's impact is most felt in the smiles and excitement of her many students who were on hand to see her recognized.

"We can say thank you as much as we want, but to see her get that recognition in front of the entire state and know how much we appreciate her, it's amazing, and I wouldn't wish for anything different," said Prairie senior and Iowa FFA secretary elect Adam McCrea.

"She is the most supportive person I know, and I got really lucky to have her as a teacher," said Prairie senior Malia Armour. "She pushes every student to be their best and helps them improve. She pushes you to want to grow. It's exciting that she can see what we see and is recognized in front of everyone for being a great teacher and great person."

Brecht was quick to point out the vast network of deserving agricultural educators across the state and in her school helps make her work possible, most notably her co-teacher at Prairie High School, Kristy Thomann.

"She has been a vital asset to the growth of our program in such a short time," Brecht said. "She's leading the freshman-level efforts with that. I’m just very thankful that we work so well together, that it's so fun to be able to do everything that we do."

Brecht's path to agriculture didn't start on a farm, though both her parents were involved in agriculture at points in their lives. Through FFA, she began showing sheep at the county fair and became more involved in the organization, especially its leadership development opportunities. She credits her advisors for continually encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone, which led to her attending her first FFA State Convention, where she fell in love with the Iowa State campus and agriculture industry.

A Columbus Community High School graduate, Brecht earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural and life sciences education and a master's of science degree from Iowa State University.

Combining that love of agriculture with education was almost predestined as the daughter, granddaughter, sister and niece of a family full of Iowa educators. However, she is not the first award-winning educator in her family. Her sister, Ann Mincks, is the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year.

"I joked when my sister was announced as the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year, that she's the good teacher in the family," Brecht said. "I think my mom is super proud, as a retired teacher, that we've continued the family legacy, and it's just really special."