For twenty years, AGCO’s Operator of the Year has recognized custom applicators of North America.
AGCO says It’s a group that rarely gets the spotlight, and one that’s critical to the success of every ag retail organization. Nominations for the 2026 award are open now.
Why It Matters
When an applicator pulls into a grower’s field, they’re the face of an ag retail company. Ag retail covers an estimated 245 million applied acres a year. And the applicators themselves work in narrow weather windows, at tight rates, in unforgiving conditions — where accuracy isn’t optional, it’s the whole job.
Award Details
Nominations close 9/30/2026.
- Finalists are nominated by their direct supervisor or colleagues who see the work every season
- Judged on service, quality of application, teamwork, training, leadership, safety and community involvement
- The prize: a Polaris side-by-side UTV or cash equivalent, awarded on stage at the Ag retailers Association Conference & Expo in Austin, Texas — plus a place on the wall at the Fendt Lodge in Jackson, Minnesota
Nominate at www.agcoaward.com — where you’ll also find this year’s finalists and past winners.
