Awards

OABA Industry Excellence Awards

For the purpose of honoring excellence, professionalism and achievement among OABA member companies and their employees, thereby encouraging that same excellence in others.

OABA acceptings nominations for three award opportunities: Achievement as an Emerging Leader, Excellence in Customer Service and Excellence in Safety & Stewardship. Nominations can be submitted by any industry professional, but the nominee must work for an OABA member company. Additional details on each award are below. Information on how to apply is available at the How to Apply tab below. 

OABA Industry Excellence Awards are closed! Please check back later for updates.

Sponsor 2021Award recipients will be recognized during the annual OABA Industry Conference. Winners will receive complimentary registration and lodging for the conference, recognition in industry publications and a $1,000 cash award. 

Thank you to our Awards Sponsor: Assured Partners - ABIS/J.H. Ward. 

 

Emerging Leader

Achievement as an Emerging Leader

Leadership at all levels in agribusiness is crucial to navigating the many issues facing the industry. Leadership is often difficult to define in everyday activities of business, but it remains an important ability to cultivate. By working to recognize leadership among those early in their careers, we can provide guidance that shapes their future, as well as that of the industry at large.

Outstanding nominees will exhibit leadership ability in day-to-day activities, while encouraging others to "do the right thing." Nominees should put the needs of their business above of their own and serve as a leader to emerging agriculturalists through local civic organizations.

2025 Recipient - Ben Hastings, Centerra Co-opImg 1134 Copy

Ben Hastings, propane site manager and service technician at Centerra Co-op, has demonstrated exemplary leadership in implementing new technologies, managing operations and mentoring his team. Beyond his professional contributions, Hastings actively volunteers with local 4-H groups, sharing his knowledge and encouraging young agriculturalists.

Past Recipients

Recipients were employed by the company listed at the time of receiving their award.

Customer Service

Excellence in Customer Service

Whether your agribusiness is grain, crop inputs, custom application or another sector of agriculture, providing excellent customer service is key to making that business successful. By recognizing those that go “above and beyond” in their service to customers, we can help define what excellent customer service looks like as we honor those whose contributions may often go unnoticed.

Outstanding nominees will demonstrate exceptional service to customers in carrying out their day-to-day work, whether it's in a front line sales position or not. Nominees should demonstrate a level of serving others that goes beyond the nuts and bolts of the job description. 

2025 Recipient - Andrea Jenkins, Centerra Co-opAndrea Jenkins1 Head Shot Copy

Andrea Jenkins, credit analyst at Centerra Co-op, consistently ensures her customers’ needs are met, often going beyond her formal job responsibilities to provide exceptional service. Known for her ability to build strong client relationships, she has been instrumental in fostering trust and loyalty within the customer base.

Past Recipients

Recipients were employed by the company listed at the time of receiving their award.

Safety & Stewardship

Excellence in Safety & Stewardship

As an underlying element of business, safety cannot be over-emphasized. Lack of attention of the safety of employees and customers can result in loss of life and business. Stewardship, too, is an extremely important aspect of he best management practices of today’s agribusiness. Stewardship goes beyond responsible care of the environment. It means care of facilities, equipment and relationships to the benefit of all involved.

Outstanding nominees will demonstrate safety and stewardship in day-to-day activities and interactions with customers, encouraging others to put safety first and be good stewards of equipment and land. 

2025 Recipient - Randy Digby, Legacy Farmers CooperativeImg 2999 Copy

Randy Digby, safety manager at Legacy Farmers Cooperative, has steadfastly advocated for improving workplace safety and implementing robust safety protocols. His efforts have significantly enhanced the well-being of employees and the operational integrity of numerous business activities.

Past Recipients

Recipients were employed by the company listed at the time of receiving their award.

Awards

OABA Industry Excellence Awards are closed! Please check back later for updates.

OABA accepts nominations for three award opportunities: Achievement as an Emerging Leader, Excellence in Customer Service and Excellence in Safety & Stewardship. Nominations can be submitted by any industry professional, but the nominee must work for an OABA member company. Additional details on each award are below. Information on how to apply is available below. 

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for an OABA Industry Excellence Award, nominee must be an employee of an OABA member company at time of nomination. If selected as an award recipient, the individual must remain in good standing with the nominating company in order to receive the award at the conference. A nominating company may rescind the nomination of an announced award recipient before its presentation if the company determines the recipient is no longer in good standing with its company.

How to Apply

An accurate and honest evaluation of the applicant’s business activities and performance is necessary to be considered for an OABA Award. All information provided in this application will be kept confidential throughout the selection process. To complete your entry, please follow these steps:

  1. Download the appropriate award nomination form and answer all the questions within. There are questions for both the nominee and the person nominating.
  2. Provide two (2) letters of recommendation from customers, managers or industry leaders.
  3. Submit nominations.

2025 Nomination Forms

 Excellence in Customer Service
 Achievement as an Emerging Leader
 Excellence in Safety & Stewardship

Submission

Submit nominations to:
Email: lprettyman@oaba.net
OR by mail at:
Ohio AgriBusiness Association
Attn. Lauren Prettyman
5151 Reed Road, Suite 126-C
Columbus, Ohio 43220

Judging Procedure

The OABA Industry Excellence Awards uses a ranking system to rate the nominees for each award area. For each judging category, the highest number of points will be identified (for 12 candidates, the best score is 12). Participants will be ranked in descending order until all nominees have been assigned a value. The candidate with the highest score will be declared the winner by the judging panel. Descriptions of the judging categories and their relative weight are available below.

All nominations are kept confidential, only limited OABA staff and the judges will see the full slate of candidates. Only the award winners will be released. While OABA staff members moderate judging, the staff does not participate in the scoring of candidates.

Nominations are reviewed and scored by a panel of three judges consisting of the following:

  • 1 judge representing agriculture, but not from an agribusiness
  • 1 judge representing academia or governmental/regulatory agency
  • 1 judge representing a non-agricultural entity, such as an association executive

Descriptions of Categories

  • Section B: Nominating Supervisor - How does the nominator describe the nominee's work and relate it to the award area? (Score x2)
  • Section C: Award Nominee - How does the nominee describe their approach to their work as it relates to the award category? (Score x2)
  • Section D: Supporting Evidence - How do the support letters describe the nominee in regard to the award and enhance the overall nomination? (Score x2)
  • Sense of Responsibility - How would you rate the responsibility of the employee and the degree to which they go above the scope of their position to meet the spirit of this award?
  • Sense of Technical Competence - How would you rank the technical competence of the nominee?
  • Sense of Degree of Difficulty - Compared to other nominees, how would you rank the degree of the nominee's difficulty of their job?
  • Sense of the Spirit of Award - How well do you feel this nominee fits the description of the award category?

Questions? 

Please contact Lauren Prettyman with any questions about the OABA Industry Excellence Awards.
Email: lprettyman@oaba.net 
Phone: 614-326-7520