Ag Week Essay Winners Announced

Posted: 3/18/2013

For Immediate
March 18, 2013                                                                  

South Dakota Third and Fourth grade winners receive recognition

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.— National Ag Week which takes place March 17-23, is a time to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture.  In celebration of Ag Week, over 400 third and fourth graders across the state of South Dakota entered the South Dakota Ag in the Classroom and South Dakota Farm Families essay contest. 

Students from 38 different school districts submitted essays between 100-250 words on the topic: “How Agriculture Impacts Me Every Day.”  

Two winners were chosen for the First Annual South Dakota Ag Week Essay contest. They are:  Matea Gordon a third grader at Sturgis Elementary and Grant Gubrud a fourth grader at Deuel Elementary in Clear Lake. 

As winners of the state wide contest, Gordon and Gurbrud will receive a classroom pizza party with an area farmer or rancher and a certificate.  Teachers of the winning students will also receive a prize pack.

“We are excited to announce the winners of our first essay contest,” stated Ann Price, South Dakota Ag in the Classroom Executive Director.  “The contest was designed to get students thinking about where their food, fuel and fiber come from.  Even though they may not be directly involved with agriculture they are impacted by agriculture every day.  The contest also met several South Dakota Department of Education core curriculum standards.”

Receiving honorable mentions are:  Lane Stern, Webster Area Elementary; Michelle Kangas, Hamlin Elementary; and Kenedy Koepsell, Howard Elementary.  Honorable mentions will receive a certificate for their outstanding essays. 

Essays can be read on the South Dakota Ag in the Classroom and South Dakota Farm Families Facebook pages. 

South Dakota Ag in the Classroom is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to be the premier educator training organization that increases student awareness of agriculture. To learn more, visit us at www.agclassroom.org/sd

South Dakota Farm Families is the Facebook page of Ag United for South Dakota.  Ag United is a coalition of farm organizations with a goal of keeping family farms growing.  Coalition members include the South Dakota Cattleman’s Association, the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, the South Dakota Dairy Producers, South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Pork Producers Council, South Dakota Poultry Industries Association and the South Dakota Soybean Association.  To learn more, visit us on Facebook at South Dakota Farm Families or our website at: www.agunited.org