By Andi Anderson
Barb Clawson, a respected horticulture educator and advisor at Iowa State University, has been named one of the 2026 Golden Owl awardees. The announcement was made during a surprise gathering on February 23, where Clawson walked into a room filled with colleagues, friends, and family who had assembled to celebrate her accomplishments.
The Golden Owl Award, presented by Nationwide and the Iowa FFA Foundation, recognizes agriculture educators who show exceptional dedication to guiding and inspiring future agricultural leaders. Each year, seven honorees are selected, and one individual later becomes the Iowa Golden Owl Award Winner and the Iowa Agricultural Educator of the Year at the annual Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference.
Clawson currently serves as a student services specialist and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University. Her contributions were praised by many, including Mike Retallick, associate dean for personnel and finance at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who said, “Barb is the epitome of what it means to be an educator and an advisor. She’s done it at all levels – high school, community college, formally, informally. I suspect that she bleeds FFA’s blue and gold just as much as Iowa State’s cardinal and gold.”
Clawson’s career in agricultural education began after earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State. She taught agricultural education and served as an FFA advisor at Dexfield Community School District for nine years. She later spent four years teaching commercial horticulture at Des Moines Area Community College before returning to Iowa State in 1998 to advise and teach students in horticulture.
Scott Smalley, professor of agricultural education and studies, noted her impact, saying, “Barb is an exceptional Golden Owl recipient who has dedicated her professional career to agriculture and agricultural education within Iowa. She is a servant leader who has impacted countless students at the secondary and post-secondary levels. This award is a small recognition for the countless hours she has provided the profession.”
Clawson is often the first person prospective students meet when exploring the department. Known for her personal approach, she ensures visitors see relevant labs, greenhouses, and research facilities. She also teaches Horticulture 1100, a course designed to introduce students to the horticulture program and career paths. Her mentorship has earned her several advising and staff excellence awards over the years.
Ajay Nair, professor and chair of the Department of Horticulture, described her influence by saying, "Barb embodies the spirit of horticulture education, cultivating not only crops, but confidence, curiosity and the next generation of agricultural leaders."
Clawson continues her outreach by organizing horticulture‑related campus tours for high school students during the annual state FFA conference. Reflecting on her work, she said, “It is my pleasure to do what I do; it is my passion that I do what I do.”
She now joins a distinguished list of past Iowa State Golden Owl awardees, which includes Scott Smalley (2023), Jon Davis (2022), Mike Retallick (2021), and the late Robert Martin (2019).
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Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle