National Ag Day Essay Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Beth Buchanan (816) 584-8444; bbuchanan@mccormickcompany.com
National Ag Day Essay Contest Announces February 4 Deadline
Students may submit written essay and/or video on 2011 theme:
 “American Agriculture: Your Food. Your Farmer.”

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS

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: Your Food. Your Farmer.” and the deadline is Feb. 4, 2011. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation.
The theme – “American Agriculture: Your Food. Your Farmer.” – presents an opportunity for students to address how the agriculture industry continues to feed a growing population. Entrants may choose to either write an essay and/or create a video that acknowledges the many ways today’s growers are providing a safe, stable food supply and sustaining the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life.
“CHS believes in the mission of Ag Day,” says Linda Tank, vice president, marketing and communications, CHS Inc. “The company is proud to help support the 2011 essay and video contest for students. Today’s youth are vibrant and resourceful. We want to recognize their ability to help communicate agriculture’s ever-important role in keeping our nation’s food, fiber and energy systems strong. We truly look forward to reviewing the written and video essays that students develop around the theme, “American Agriculture: Your Food. Your Farmer.”
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 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 38th 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 and McCormick Company.
All written entries should be sent to: Ag Day Essay Contest, Agriculture Council of America, 11020 King Street, Suite 205, Overland Park, KS 66210, or submitted by email 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 to the address above on a compact disc. Visit www.agday.org or www.hpj.com/agdayessay to read official contest rules and for more details regarding entry applications.