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Students Win Essay Contest

Last updated on Thursday, March 1, 2012

(UNDATED) - As part of the 2012 celebration marking Agriculture Appreciation Month in March, six Hoosiers students were selected for their winning essays in the 2nd Annual Ag Essay Contest titled “Our Food, Our Farmers.” This year’s contest explored Indiana’s role as a global agricultural leader.

All winners will be recognized during a special ceremony during the "From Tractor to Truck" event outside the Indiana Statehouse on March 8 in Celebration of National Ag Day and Nutrition Month.

Sponsored by Indiana's Family of Farmers and Indiana Humanities, the essay contest encouraged students to recognize and share all the ways Indiana agriculture plays a positive role in their own lives -as well as in the lives of those around them. In addition, teachers were able to apply a breakdown of the State Core Academic Standards met by the essay contest.

"This essay contest continues to be a 'win-win-win' for all. Teachers meet their curriculum needs, students participate in a fun and interesting project, and our Indiana farming community is recognized for its local and global impact," said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. "We are proud to again partner with Indiana's Family of Farmers to celebrate our rich agricultural history through the collection of student stories."

More than 280 students submitted essays from across Indiana. The winning essays were selected from three grade levels: 4-6; 7-9 and 10-12. First place winners will receive an Apple iPad and second place winners receive a Kodak Playsport camcorder.

The winning essays will be posted on www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com and www.indianahumanities.org but can be made available upon request.

Essay contest winners are as follows:

Grades 4-6: First Place:
Emi Lou Campbell of Custer Baker Intermediate School
Franklin, IN

Second Place
Claudia Duncan of St. Joseph Catholic School
Evansville, IN Grades 4-6

Grades 7-9: First Place:
Rebecca Stanton of Central Middle School
Columbus, IN

Second Place:
Thomas Werstler of Whitko High School
Larwill, IN

Grades 10-12: First Place:
Ben Sheldon of Martinsville High School
Martinsville, IN

Second Place:
Morgan Tomson of South Decatur Junior-Senior High School
Westport, IN

"Congratulations to all who participated in the essay contest and who took this opportunity to learn more about Indiana's family farms," said Joe Kelsay, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. "Through this contest students learned about a farmer's research, environmental commitment and sound business model required to compete in the global market. We look forward to recognizing our winners March 8 for National Ag Day."

This contest is part of Indiana Humanities' two-year Spirit of Competition initiative. Spirit of Competition will celebrate the role competition plays in our lives by examining core elements of competition such as civility, rivalry, innovation, passion and failure.

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