Ag Day Poster Art Contest Winner Announced

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) and Successful Farming encouraged young artists to celebrate modern agriculture through the first ever National Ag Day Poster Art Contest. A winning original piece of art has been chosen as the Official National Ag Day poster.

Congratulations to April Fox, Wayne State University, for being selected the winner of the contest. Fox was selected amoung many young artists in the competition. The contest theme was Generations Nourishing Generations. Entries were screened by a nine member jury and finalists were judged through online voting to determine the winner.

In addition, her artwork and a profile of Fox will be prominently featured in Successful Farming magazine and Ag Day correspondence.  She will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Successful Farming. Media releases will also be sent to all Ag Day sponsors and supporters. The artist will receive a portion of the proceeds from limited edition prints and the original artwork will be on display in a public location.

National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society.

The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

• Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
  

• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
  

• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
  

• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.
  

American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) calls on ninth- 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: Nourishing Opportunities” and the deadline is Feb. 1, 2013. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation.

The theme, “American Agriculture: Nourishing Opportunities,” presents an opportunity for students to address how the agriculture industry is an endless source of opportunity for growth and development. Entrants may choose to either write an essay and/or create a video focusing on how today’s growers are overcoming challenges to provide a safe, stable food supply and sustain the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life.

“CHS enthusiastically supports rural youth and is proud to showcase their ideas,” says Annette Degnan, marketing communications director, CHS Inc., one of this year’s essay contest sponsors. “The essay and video contests provide an engaging platform for their voices, vision and dreams to be shared with a broader audience.’”

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 19 at Whitten Patio at the USDA. 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.

This is the 40th anniversary of National Ag Day. The goal of the ACA is to provide a spotlight on agriculture and the food and fiber industry. The ACA not only helps consumers understand how food and fiber products are produced, but also brings people together to celebrate accomplishments in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

The Ag Day Essay Contest is sponsored by CHS Inc., The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal, National Association of Farm Broadcasting, National Agri-Marketing Association, Country Living Association, Farm Progress Companies and McCormick Company.

All written entries should be sent to: 2013 Ag Day Essay Contest, Agriculture Council of America, 11020 King Street, Suite 205, Overland Park, KS 66210, or submitted by e-mail to essay@agday.org. Students may upload video essays at http://agday.leapfile.net and follow the directions on the page, or students may choose to mail video entries on a compact disc to the address above. Visit www.agday.org or www.hpj.com/agdayessay to read official contest rules and for more details regarding entry applications.