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FRANKFORT, Ky. — What will Kentucky agriculture look like in the future? How will scientific advances, new products and other factors affect the production of our food and fiber? Schoolchildren throughout the Commonwealth are invited to share their vision of Kentucky agriculture’s future in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s 2006 Poster and Essay Contest.
“This annual contest inspires children to learn more about the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “I urge teachers and parents to encourage our young people to enter this contest. They will discover how farmers produce the safe, abundant and affordable food and fiber that we all enjoy.”
Contestants will draw posters and write essays about “Kentucky Agriculture: Growing for the Future.” They will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of the unique new opportunities that are emerging in agriculture such as biofuels, plant-based biodegradable plastics and research into plant-based medicines.
Statewide poster and essay winners in each of grades 1-8 will be honored in the Kentucky Agriculture Day Luncheon March 22 at the Kentucky History Center. Each winner will receive a $100 savings bond.
One Kentucky Proud Poster and one Kentucky Proud Essay will be selected from among all the winners. The classrooms of the students who produce the Kentucky Proud Poster and Kentucky Proud Essay each will be awarded $500.
Entries must be based on the contest theme. Posters must contain the theme. Drawings must be in color. Poster contest participants are asked not to use colored pencils. Posters should be no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches, drawn on white paper and framed with either poster board, heavy paper or mat board. Essays from students in grades 1-3 should be no longer than 150 words, and essays from students in grades 4-8 should be no longer than 250 words. Entries must be entirely student-created. Students may enter both contests.
Essays and posters will be used in various KDA publications and special events. They become the property of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and will not be returned.
Entries should be mailed to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Poster and Essay Contest, 500 Mero St., 7th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. Entries must be in the KDA office or postmarked no later than Feb. 24. Winners will be notified by March 10.
For full contest rules, information resources and other information, contact Rayetta Boone or Teresa Prather by phone at (502) 564-4696 or by e-mail at rayetta.boone@ky.gov or teresa.prather@ky.gov. For more information on the Web, go to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Web site, www.kyagr.com, click on Education Resources in the pull-down menu and click on Agricultural Education.
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