The Dakota Farmer's 2015 Master Farmer awards go to Randolph Johnson, Onida, S.D.; Devon Wolkow, DeSmet, S.D.; Durward Otterness, Tower City, N.D.; and Jim Pernsteiner, Monango, N.D.

Johnson was a single father with an infant son who started farming in the middle of the 1980s farm crisis. His son nominated him for the award.

Wolkow is a grain grower, purebred sheep producer farmer and high school track coach who applies his "personal best" style of competitiveness to the farm field as well as to track and field. A crop consultant who works with Wolkow to improve his grain yields every year nominated him for recognition.

Randolph Johnson is one of four Master Farmer award winners for 2015.

Otterness is 88-year-old dairyman who keeps on farming because it keeps him young and happy. His wife nominated him for Master Farmer because he truly loves the land and is content with farm life.

Pernsteiner is a self-made grain and cattle producer who hopes to give his kids a chance that he never had – to farm with their father. One of his landlord nominated him for the award.

You can nominate someone you admire to be recognized as a Master Farmer in 2016 by emailing [email protected]. Describe why the Master Farmer in your life should be recognized. We'll do the rest!

Active farmers and ranchers, men or women, and couples are eligible.

Master Farmer one of the oldest recognition programs in the United States.