| 2021 & 2022 | Governor Tim Walz | Minnesota |
| 2019 & 2020 | Governor Kim Reynolds | Iowa |
| 2018 | Governor John R. Kasich | Ohio |
| 2017 | Governor Scott Walker | Wisconsin |
| 2016 | Governor Sam Brownback | Kansas |
| 2015 | Governor Sam Brownback | Kansas |
| 2014 | Governor Scott Walker | Wisconsin |
| 2013 | Governor Mark Dayton | Minnesota |
| 2012 | Governor Terry Branstad | Iowa |
| 2011 | Governor Pat Quinn | Illinois |
| 2010 | Governor Ted Strickland | Ohio |
| 2009 | Governor Jennifer Granholm | Michigan |
| 2008 | Governor M. Michael Rounds | South Dakota |
| 2007 | Governor Jim Doyle | Wisconsin |
| 2006 | Governor Tim Pawlenty | Minnesota |
| 2005 | Governor Rod Blagojevich | Illinois |
| 2004 | Governor John Hoeven | North Dakota |
| 2003 | Governor Bob Holden | Missouri |
| 2002 | Governor Mike Johanns | Nebraska |
| 2001 | Governor Tom Vilsack | Iowa |
| 2000 | Governor George Ryan | Illinois |
| 1998 & 1999 | Governor Frank O’Bannon | Indiana |
| 1997 | Governor Bill Graves | Kansas |
| 1996 | Governor Jim Edgar | Illinois |
| 1995 | Governor Edward Schafer | North Dakota |
| 1994 | Governor E. Benjamin Nelson | Nebraska |
| 1992 & 1993 | Governor Arne H. Carlson | Minnesota |
| 1991 | Governor George V. Voinovich | Ohio |
| 1989 & 1990 | Governor Tommy G. Thompson | Wisconsin |
| 1988 | Governor Richard F. Celeste | Ohio |
| 1987 | Governor Terry E. Branstad | Iowa |
| 1986 | Governor Robert Kerrey | Nebraska |
| 1985 | Governor Robert D. Orr | Indiana |
| 1984 | Governor Rudy Perpich | Minnesota |
| 1983 | Governor Christopher S. Bond | Missouri |
| 1983 | Governor Charles Thone | Nebraska |
| 1982 | Governor John Carlin | Kansas |
| 1981 | Governor James R. Thompson | Illinois |
| 1980 | Governor Joseph P. Teasdale | Missouri |
| 1979 | Governor Otis R. Bowen, M.D. | Indiana |
| 1978 | Governor Arthur A. Link | North Dakota |
| 1977 | Governor Christopher S. Bond | Missouri |
| 1976 | Governor Richard F. Kneip | South Dakota |
| 1975 | Governor William G. Milliken | Michigan |
| 1974 | Governor J. James Exon | Nebraska |
| 1973 | Governor Robert D. Ray | Iowa |
| 1972 | Governor Robert Docking | Kansas |
| 1971 | Governor Norbert T. Tiemann | Nebraska |
| 1970 | Governor Warren E. Hearnes | Missouri |
| 1969 | Governor Warren P. Knowles | Wisconsin |
| 1968 | Governor Otto Kerner | Illinois |
| 1967 | Governor James A. Rhodes | Ohio |
| 1966 | Governor Karl F. Rolvaag | Minnesota |
| 1965 | Governor George Romney | Michigan |
| 1964 | Governor Frank B. Morrison | Nebraska |
| 1962 & 1963 | Governor William L. Guy | North Dakota |
