The National Association of Agricultural Educators is a federation of state agricultural educators associations with more than 7,800 members. Members are involved in school-based agricultural education at any level, from middle school through postsecondary, and state and national agricultural education leaders. The 2019 award winners include Marshall native Kirby Schmidt for Region III, Outstanding Early Career Teacher Awards. Schmidt teaches at Deer River Public Schools ISD 317.

The John Deere The Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award is a means of encouraging young teachers to remain in the profession and to recognize their participation in professional activities.

This program is sponsored by John Deere as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.