Recipients of the 2026 Ag Tech Awards of Excellence. From left: CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj; Don Bierman, Crop IMS (Legacy Award); Dr. Ramesh Raliya, Rhizophyll Corp. (Emerging Leader Award); Darin Krantz, AgZen (Innovator Award, accepted for Vishnu Jayaprakash); and Meagan and Marc Kaiser, Kaiser Family Farms (Visionary Farmer Award). Not pictured: Dr. Tom Meade, Enko Chem (Educator/Researcher Award).
2027 Nominations Will Open in January
Presented by CropLife® Magazine, the CropLife Ag Tech Awards of Excellence, recognize outstanding individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement in the use, adoption, and advancement of agricultural technologies.
Established 20 years ago, the CropLife Ag Tech Awards honor those whose work has significantly contributed to the evolution of agriculture through innovative technology solutions, sustainability efforts, and the integration of data-driven practices that enhance productivity, efficiency, and environmental stewardship across the industry.
Winners will be announced during the CropLife Ag Tech Awards at Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo on July 19-21, 2027, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Award Categories
Educator / Researcher Award
The Educator/Researcher Award recognizes an individual whose outstanding contributions have advanced agricultural technology through research, education, and outreach. This award honors an individual who demonstrates leadership, fosters collaboration, and shares insights that enhance farming practices, sustainability, and productivity, while exemplifying innovation, professionalism, stewardship, and a lasting impact on the ag tech industry. Nominee must be employed with a college, university, or research facility.
Legacy Award
The Legacy Award recognizes an individual whose career has had a profound and lasting impact on the advancement of agricultural technology over the course of at least 15 years of their profession. The recipient of this award is a leader whose innovations and dedication has not only advanced the field of ag tech but has also left a legacy that continues to influence and inspire future generations of innovators in agriculture.
Innovator Award
The Innovator Award recognizes an adviser or entrepreneur who has made a significant impact on agriculture through the development and application of technologies or methods. This award recognizes those who have not only pioneered new tools, concepts, or practices but have also used their expertise to drive tangible improvements for farmers, enhancing productivity, sustainability, and overall farm success.
Visionary Farmer Award
The Visionary Farmer Award recognizes an individual who has made a transformative impact with integrating agriculture technology and innovative practices into their farming operation, leading to remarkable gains in yield, resource efficiency, and profitability. This award also celebrates this individual’s exceptional contributions to land stewardship, highlighting their efforts with promoting sustainable resource conservation and environmental preservation for the future of agriculture.
Emerging Leader Award
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a rising talent in agricultural technology who demonstrates exceptional promise and leadership with new solutions, strategic thinking, or leadership within their community or industry. This award honors an innovator driving change through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that enhance farming productivity, sustainability, and efficiency, shaping the future of agriculture.
Who Can Nominate?
Award nominations must be submitted by any individual or individuals, company, organization, institution, or university working with ag technology.
There is no cost to submit nominations.
Judging Process
Nominees are evaluated based on their achievements, leadership, and overall impact on the advancement of agricultural technologies. Awardees will be selected by a panel of industry experts, innovators, and thought leaders who are committed to recognizing the best in ag tech.
Winners Prize
Winners will be invited to attend an award ceremony in their honor at the 2026 Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo July 20-22 in Des Moines, Iowa. Winners receive a full conference registration, two-nights hotel accommodations, and will be featured in the post-event winner’s announcement article.
Meet the Judges
April Hemmes
Owner and Operator
Hemmes Farms
April is a farmer and rancher. She farms her family’s century farm south of Hampton, Iowa. The farm consists of approximately 1,000 acres. She has been the owner and operator of her farm for 40 years. The farm is corn, soybean rotation and pastureland. April is the full-time farmer in this family, and her husband is retired from his off-farm job.
April has a bachelor of science in animal science from Iowa State University. From there she worked in a bank, in the ISU Agronomy Department doing research, at the Iowa Swine Testing Station in Ames, and as a Legislative Aide for an Iowa Congressman in Washington D.C., as well as for NK brand seeds doing research.
John Fulton, Ph.D.
Researcher
Ohio State University
John Fulton, Ph.D., is a Researcher at the Ohio State University.
Bruce Erickson
Clinical Professor of Digital Agriculture
Purdue University
Bruce is the Clinical Professor of Digital Agriculture at Purdue University. His online classes for working professionals include agronomy essentials, precision agriculture, and nutrient management, with more than 3,000 course completions since 2015. He also leads a group teaching a resident undergraduate data science course. Bruce is responsible for the annual the CropLife/Purdue Precision Dealer Survey and is an Associate Editor of the journal Natural Sciences Education.
Ben Sheldon
Technology Sales Manager
Raven Industries
Born and raised on a small swine and grain operation in southern Indiana, Ben spent most of his youth tinkering on older farm equipment. Following his passions, Ben earned a degree in agribusiness management from Purdue University. Ben’s career post college has included a variety of roles within the CNH Industrial family of brands, including Business Analyst, Technology Project Manager for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and Technology Marketing Lead for the New Holland brand in North America. Post acquisition by CNH Industrial, Ben joined Raven North America to lead their aftermarket business unit as Sales Manager for the U.S. and Canada.
Michael Moore
Executive Vice President
Ever.Ag Agribusiness
Michael serves as Executive Vice President in the Agribusiness division at Ever.Ag and is responsible for connecting an ag technology ecosystem spanning ag retail/wholesale, crop consultants, digital freight, and crop insurance agency management solutions across the supply chain. Prior to this role, Michael served as Senior Vice President at EFC Systems since 1997 and focused on initiatives to promote companywide growth for ag technology solutions and services as well as team development.
Amy Asmus, CCA RMS
Co-Owner/Agronomist
Asmus Farm Supply, Inc.
Amy is a respected and successful co-owner/agronomist of Asmus Farm Supply, Inc., a family-owned agricultural retailer selling to growers who apply crop inputs. Amy is involved in her family’s farming operation. She also is a partner in SecureTracs, a business helping ag retailers comply with EPA repackaging and tank tracking requirements.
Eric Sfiligoj
Editor, CropLife and CropLife IRON
Meister Media Worldwide
Eric is the Editor for CropLife and CropLife IRON magazines and host of the weekly YouTube broadcast Retail Week. He has been dedicated to the ag retail industry since he joined the staff in 2000.
2026 Winners
Educator/Researcher
Award Winner
Dr. Tom Meade
Chief Science Officer
Enko Chem
Visionary Farmer
Award Winner
Marc and Meagan Kaiser
Owner/Operator
Kaiser Family Farms
Legacy
Award Winner
Don Bierman
CEO
Crop IMS LLC
Innovator
Award Winner
Vishnu Jayaprakash
CEO
AgZen
Emerging Leader
Award Winner
Dr. Ramesh Raliya
CEO
Rhizophyll Corporation
View Previous Winners
Erich Eller, ForeFront Ag Solutions |
Crop Advisor/Entrepreneur Award
Simerjeet Virk, University of Georgia |
Educator/Researcher Award
Skip Klinefelter, Illinois | Farmer Award
Clark Bell, Aqua-Yield | Legacy Award
Stout Industrial Technology
Crop Advisor/Entrepreneur Award
Jeff Wessels
Frenchman Valley Coop | Crop Advisor/Entrepreneur Award
Greg Odde
Aberdeen, SD | Farmer Award
Jim Chambers
Trimble Agriculture | Legacy Award
Michael Ott, Rantizo | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Nicholas Uilk, South Dakota State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Wade Wilson, Olney, IL | Farmer Award
Dan Frieberg, Premier Crop Systems | Legacy Award
Dr. Ajay Sharda, Kansas State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Jason Ward, North Carolina State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Ofir Schlam, Taranis | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Grant Strom, Dahindra, IL | Farmer Award
Eric Lund, Veris Technologies | Legacy Award
Dr. Wesley Porter, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA | Educator/Researcher Award
Brittany Ullrich, Winfield United | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Brent Rendel, Miami, OK | Farmer Award
Brett Whelan, University Sydney, Sydney, Australia | Legacy Award
Dave Junge, Junge Control, Cedar Rapids, IA | Legacy Award (posthumous)
Dr. Bruce Erickson, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN | Educator/Researcher Award
Nishan Majarian, Agrian, Clovis, CA | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Rodney Wright, Wright Farms, Tyronza, AR | Farmer Award
Dr. Newell Kitchen, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO | Legacy Award
Dr. Harold van Es, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | Educator/Researcher Award
Dr. Joe Luck, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Lincoln, NE | Educator/Researcher Award
Wade Barnes, CEO, Farmers Edge, Winnipeg, MB Canada | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Dr. Paul E. Fixen, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), Brookings, SD | Legacy Award
Dr. Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Ag Partners, Crop Adviser | Entrepreneur Award
Craige Mackenzie, Methven, New Zealand | Farmer Award
Dr. Marvin Stone, Oklahoma State University | Legacy Award (posthumous)
Dr. Raj Khosla, Colorado State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Dave Scheiderer, Integrated Ag Services | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Rod Weimer, Eaton, CO | Farmer Award
Dr. Randy Taylor, Oklahoma State University | Legacy Award
Dr. Matthew Darr, Iowa State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Chris Fennig, MyFarms.com | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Tony Alameda, San Luis Obispo, CA | Farmer Award
Dr. Scott Shearer, The Ohio State University | Legacy Award
Dr. Joe Tevis, Topcon Precision Agriculture | Legacy Award
Dr. John Fulton, Auburn University |Educator/Researcher Award
Laserplane Arkansas Inc., Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Byron and Darrington Seward, Seward Farms | Farmer Award
Dr. William Raun, Oklahoma State University | Legacy Award
Terry Brase, Kirkwood Community College | Educator/Researcher Award
Daryl Starr, Advanced Ag Solutions | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
David Cox, Davco Farming | Farmer Award
Scott Beck, Beck’s Superior Hybrids | Educator/Researcher Award
Dave Nerpel, Wilbur-Ellis | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Dan Forgey, Cronin Farms, Gettysburg, SD | Farmer Award
Dr. Nyle Wollenhaupt, AGCO | Legacy Award
Dr. Terry Griffin
University of Arkansas | Educator/Researcher Award
OptiGro Team
Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Ken Dalenberg
Mansfield, IL | Farmer Award
Jess Lowenberg-Deboer
Purdue University | Legacy Award
Harold Reetz
Reetz Agronomics | Legacy Award
Dr. David Clay, South Dakota State University | Educator/Researcher Award
Quentin Rund, PAQ Interactive | Crop Adviser/Entrepreneur Award
Robert Blair, Kendrick, ID | Farmer Award
David Waits, SST Software | Legacy Award
Allen Myers, Ag Leader | PrecisionAg Award of Excellence
Ted Macy, MapShots | PrecisionAg Award of Excellence
Dr. Joe Russo, ZedX, Inc. | PrecisionAg Award of Excellence
Art Lange, Trimble | PrecisionAg Award of Excellence
Dr. Scott Shearer, University of Kentucky | PrecisionAg Award of Excellence
Norm Teegardin, Farm Works | PrecisionAg Award of Excellence