MADISON – Annabelle Winkers, a fourth-grade student from Fennimore, and Adalyn Howe, a fifth-grade student from Lodi, have been selected as state winners in the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom essay contest. Wisconsin fourth and fifth graders were asked to write an essay with the theme, “A Wisconsin Tree and Me: How Trees Grow Food and Fiber.”
Each year the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom program hosts an essay contest to engage students in writing, reading and research through the context of food and agriculture. Essays were judged on content, grade-appropriate writing benchmarks and creativity. This contest is open to all fourth and fifth grade students across the state.
Annabelle is the winner of the fourth-grade contest. Her teacher is Emily Kamps at Fennimore Elementary School in Grant County. Adalyn is the winner of the fifth-grade contest. She submitted her essay independently with the help of her family. Adalyn is a student at Lodi Elementary School in Columbia County. The winners were honored by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Deputy Secretary, Aileen Switzer, at the DATCP Board Meeting in Madison on July 10.
“Wisconsin Agriculture is an integral part of our state’s history, economy, and culture, which are all important learning standards in both fourth and fifth grade classrooms,” says Beth Schaefer, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator. “Teachers and Agriculture in the Classroom volunteers work to ensure the annual essay contest supports and encourages students to learn about the critical role that agriculture plays in daily life so that students build an awareness and understanding of the food and fiber they use every day. This year’s winners did an outstanding job researching and writing about Wisconsin trees. We are excited to honor these talented young writers.”
Over 1,500 students wrote essays for the competition, which is sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation and leading partners Compeer Financial, AgCountry Financial and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.
Essay entries were judged at the county, district and state levels with stiff competition in each grade division. Nine district winners were named state finalists and received a prize package including a medal and custom backpack. The state winner also received a plaque and prizes valued at over $250.
Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom program is designed to help K-12 students understand the importance of agriculture. The program is coordinated by Wisconsin Farm Bureau in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with funding from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, other agricultural groups and a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Learn more at wisagclassroom.org.
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