Agriculture Program Receives State, National Recognition

The Ohio Association of Agricultural Educators has named Edison State Community College’s Agriculture program the state’s Outstanding Postsecondary Agricultural Program for 2026, recognizing its excellence in agricultural education and commitment to student success.

The OAAE presented the award during its summer conference on June 10, 2026. During the conference, Edison State Director of Agriculture Program Brad Lentz was also honored for his 30 years of outstanding service as an agricultural educator.

Additionally, the National Association of Agricultural Educators recently announced its 2026 award winners, with Edison State’s Agriculture program named the Region IV Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program. The organization will present awards at the 2026 NAAE Convention, which will take place December 1-5 in New Orleans.

“It’s always great to be recognized for your work! What I believe is most special about this recognition is that it comes from my peers,” said Lentz. “This award was chosen by the very people I’ve spent my career working with and beside. It’s also a great tribute for the community that our agriculture program is based around. The quality of students, organizations, and businesses that I have the pleasure to work with makes this job fun!”

Offered through Edison State at Greenville, the Agriculture program prepares students to excel in today’s agriculture industry with hands-on learning, internships, and connections to industry leaders. Students in the program have the opportunity to take site tours of area agriculture operations and attend in-class speaker presentations from local farmers and agribusinesses, gaining a clear understanding of how their classwork connects to real-world careers. These experiences also help students build a professional network that can support and guide them throughout their careers.

Learn more about the Edison State Agriculture program by visiting www.edisonohio.edu/business.