Ag Day Contest

We got our FFA Fruit this week and remembered the essays I used to assign my students. I always felt communication is extremely valuable and that one of the best things I could help me students do is become a better communicator.

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is calling on 9th to 12th grade students to submit an original, 450-word essay or a two-minute video essay about the importance of agriculture. This year’s theme is "American Agriculture: Your Food. Your Farmer" and the deadline is Feb. 4, 2011. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation. The theme presents an opportunity for students to address how the agriculture industry continues to feed a growing population, acknowledge the many ways today's growers are providing a safe, stable food supply and the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life.

The national written essay winner receives a $1,000 prize and round-trip ticket to Washington, D.C., for recognition during the Celebration of Ag Dinner held March 15, at Whitten Patio at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During dinner, the winner will have the opportunity to read the winning essay, as well as join with industry representatives, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, media and other friends in a festive ag celebration. The video essay winner wins a $1,000 prize, and the winning video will play during the Celebration of Ag Dinner. For more information, go to www.agday.org/media/pr4.php.

To encourage our local students to participate I will give $50 to the best essay OR video sent to me by the contest deadline above. This is open to the world and you heard it here first on HyMark High Spots.

I like this year's theme, too, Your Food, Your Farmer. I bring up the farmer feeds 155 people data in many conversations. People are always taken back by that and just think a minute then say something like wow or that is impressive.

This little contest should give us lots of reading and writing fodder by Feb. 4.

Spread the word, contest is open!

Ed Winkle