The first Global Ag Tech Awards of Excellence North America were presented at the second Tech Hub LIVE in Indianapolis on July 21. The awards carry on a 15-year tradition of the Precision Ag Awards of Excellence with a new name to reflect the direction of the industry on an international level. The awards are sponsored by the Global Ag Tech Alliance, formally known as the Precision Ag Alliance.

The 2022 Precision Farmer of the Year award was presented to Greg Odde, L&O Acres, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The family operation was founded in 1974 by Greg’s father Leonard and is run today along with Greg’s sons Chris and Kirby and grandson Parker.

There were two winners in the Crop Advisor/Entrepreneur of the Year category this year. Stout Industrial Technology, creator of the Smart Cultivator, is an ag tech startup located in Salinas, California developing farm implements that automate labor intensive and expensive tasks like weeding, cultivating and spraying. CEO Brent Shedd accepted the award for the company.

Crop Advisor of the Year Jeff Wessels is Acre+ Precision Ag Manager for Frenchman Valley Coop in Grant, Nebraska. Wessels has been a leader in farmer-facing precision agriculture programs for over 20 years and was one of the first individuals to work with growers on grid soil sampling and variable rate fertility, then to have variable yield zones for fertility and then progress to variable rate seeding.

Finally, the Legacy in Ag Technology Award was presented to Jim Chambers, Vice President and General Manager, Ag Division, Trimble Agriculture. Chambers has dedicated his career to ag tech, precision ag and water technology at both start-ups and major corporations such as Monsanto, Bayer Crop Science, and John Deere.

Congrats to all and check out more photos from the event in the link below.
2022 Tech Hub LIVE Photo Album