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Frankfort
, KY –Today is Agriculture Day, and the Kentucky Department
of Agriculture celebrated both by rewarding young people
who have learned how food gets from a farm to their
kitchen table, and by taking an active hand in helping
feed some hungry Kentucky children.
“Education
is an important part of our Department's mission, and
students in grades 1-8 across the Commonwealth have
been learning how farm-fresh food gets from a producer's
operation to their own table through our annual Ag Day
Poster and Essay Contest,” said Kentucky Agriculture
Commissioner Richie Farmer.
Children
statewide entered drawings or essays around the theme,
“Agriculture, from Farm to Table.” Contest winners in
each grade received $100 savings bonds as they were
recognized at a luncheon today at the Kentucky History
Center in Frankfort .
For
2004, essay winners are: Ben Havener, Warren County,
first grade; Sommer Calvert, Woodford County, second
grade; Matt McCarty, Daviess County, third grade; Summer
Pugh, Pike County, fourth grade; Lucas Bragg, Barren
County, fifth grade; Ann Moraja, Washington County,
sixth grade; Annie Wigginton, Nelson County, seventh
grade; and Jordan Hatchett, Barren County, eighth grade.
Poster
winners are: Anna Alpern, Fayette County, first grade;
Avery Turner, Monroe County, second grade; Koko Sams,
Meade County, third grade; Joseph Wilson, Monroe County,
fourth grade; Laiken Buechler, Jefferson County, fifth
grade; Osha Shireman, Meade County, sixth grade; David
Lee Whelan, Meade County, seventh grade; and Ellen Bravard,
Christian County, eighth grade.
KDA
is also partnering with the Dare to Care Food Bank and
its Kids Café program. The Kids Cafés
serve children in economically-challenged areas hot,
nutritious meals each week at no cost. The program serves
children 2,200 hot meals each week in 13 areas across
Kentucky . KDA has committed $3,500 in grant monies
to the project.
“All
this week -- National Agriculture Week -- the Kids Cafés
will be serving Kentucky-grown commodities as part of
their meals,” Commissioner Farmer said, “so producers
are also benefiting.”
Happy
Hollow Farms in Springfield is a part of the nine-member
Central Kentucky Hog Marketing Cooperative. It received
about half of KDA's $3,500 grant monies to supply pork
products to Kids Cafés. The remainder of the
funds went to supplier Kentucky Premium Beef in Marion
, which buys feeder cattle from producers all across
the state.
Those
at the Frankfort Ag Day celebration had the opportunity
to see one of the History Center 's special dramas,
“Diary of the Depression: A Day in a Life” starring
actress Annie Denny. The attendees also received a private
tour of the History Center exhibits featured in “The
Kentucky Journey.”
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