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.

National Ag Day Poster Art Contest Begins Aug. 1

A winning piece of art will be chosen as the Official National Ag Day Poster

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

The contest begins August 1 and is open to amateur artists enrolled in high school or college. The contest theme is Generations Nourishing Generations. Entries will be screened by a nine member jury.  Finalists will then be judged through online voting to determine one winner.

In addition, the artwork and a profile of the artist will be prominently featured in Successful Farming magazine and Ag Day correspondence.  The winner 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.

The deadline for submitting entries is Midnight (CST), October 31, 2012. For rules on the National Ag Day Poster Art Contest visit www.agday.org.

“The Agriculture Council of America is fully supportive of the new Ag Day Poster Art Contest,” said Barry Nelson, John Deere and ACA Chair. “It’s a great way to encourage young artists to celebrate agriculture and spread the word of the importance of agriculture in everyone’s lives.” 

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.
  

Generations Nourishing Generations

Agriculture Council of America Announces 2013 National Ag Day Date

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host National Agriculture Day on March 19, 2013. This will mark the 40th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for Ag Day 2013 is “Generations Nourishing Generations.”

On March 19, 2013, ACA will host major events in the nation’s capital including the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon and the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner. Additionally, the ACA will bring approximately 100 college students to Washington to deliver the message of Ag Day to the Hill.

These events honor National Agriculture Day and mark a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate.

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.

In addition to the events in Washington, DC on March 19, the ACA will once again feature the Ag Day Essay Contest. New for 2013 will be the Ag Day Poster Contest.

Keep checking www.agday.org for more information on National Ag Day in 2013.

Students Bring Ag Day to Capitol Hill

Over 100 students from NAMA, FFA, 4-H, AFA, the Consortium and other groups were chosen to share in the message of agriculture and its importance during Ag Day Celebration 2012. Students stayed at the National 4-H Visitors Center and visited Capitol Hill to meet directly with legislators and advisors from their home state.

Tuesday, March 6, kicked-off with a welcome for the students and a mix-and-mingle to get to know each other.

On Wednesday, March 7, students participated in training sessions with government relations liaisons, shared ideas and built advocacy plans. They also took a guided tour of Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, March 8, they shared morning coffee at the USDA with Krysta Harden, Chief of Staff for Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack. They also attended the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon at the Senate Building.

Ag Day Coffee Kicks-off National Ag Day

Photo by Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm, LLC

The Ag Day Coffee kicked off the 2012 Ag Day Celebration, March 8, in Washington, D.C. Over 200 people attended the morning coffee to hear Krysta Harden, Chief of Staff to Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, at the USDA Whitten Building Patio.

Before joining the Obama Administration, she served as the CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts based in Washington, D.C. from 1993-2004. Ms. Harden was the Senior VP of Gordley Associates, an agriculture consulting firm, where she focused on conservation and renewable energy issues.

Krysta worked on Capitol Hill from 1981-1992. Her time on the Hill included serving as a professional staff member for the House Agriculture Committee and as chief of staff and press secretary to former Congressman Charles Hatcher (D-GA).

Krysta is from Camilla, Georgia, where her family still lives and farms and a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Photo by Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm, LLC

Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon

Approximately 300 people attended the Ag Day Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon at the Longworth House Office Building on March 8. Attendees listened to Congressman Collin Peterson speak on the importance of American agriculture along with Danielle and Chad Budy, one of the Outstanding Young Farmer honorees. Also speaking at the luncheon was Student NAMA member, Matrica Myer.

Chad Budy began farming in junior high school, planting 250 acres of rented land with wheat and grazing 100 head of cattle. He now raises wheat, alfalfa, canola, stocked cattle and cow/calf pairs on more than 6,300 acres near Alva, Oklahoma.  He graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma University with a degree in ag business.  He and his wife, Danielle, both come from five generations of farming and ranching.

The Outstanding Young Farmer program began in the 1940s.  The first Outstanding Young Farmer National Congress, held under the sponsorship of John Deere, in 1977, in Bismarck, ND.

From the registrations received each year, the top 25 candidates are reviewed by judges and from that group the top ten are chosen for an expense paid trip to the OYF Awards Congress each year.  These top 10 automatically become members of the OFA Fraternity.  From the top ten – 4 are chosen as National Outstanding Young Farmers.   In attendance at Ag Day festivities were the four national winners from the OYF Class of 2011. There are 1500 plus members in the OFA fraternity and several hundred of them return each year to attend the Congress and renew friendships from years passed.  The OFA Fraternity are incorporated and elect officers who serve 2 year terms.  The OFA is a very important part of the OYF Program and the majority of the membership remain successful and influential farmers.

John Deere has been the national sponsor of this program since 1977.  Honorees for the Outstanding Young Farmers were: Joseph and Dawn Geremia from Connecticut; Chad and Danielle Budy from Oklahoma; John and Stacy Melick from New Jersey; and Ryan and Michelle Keller from Wisconsin.

The luncheon also featured a speaker representing the students involved in the Ag day Hill visits. Matrica Myer is from Edgar, Nebraska where she grew up on a corn soybean, and cattle operation. She is now a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she is studying agribusiness with an entrepreneurship minor. She is involved with the Nebraska Agriculture Youth Council, National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), Engler Agribusiness entrepreneurship club, and is the secretary of the Agricultural/Agribusiness Club. 

For more photos of all of the Ag Day Activities please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimmcomm/sets/72157629172832298/. All photos courtesy of Chuck Zimmerman, ZimmComm, LLC.