2025 POSTER AND ESSAY CONTEST

Commissioner Jonathan Shell invites students across the commonwealth to create and submit original works of art to show the importance of agriculture to the Commonwealth’s way of life and our future. Students are encouraged to submit either a poster, essay, or digital art based on the contest theme. The theme for 2025 is “Kentucky Agriculture Makes Me Proud.”


HELPFUL HINTS FOR THIS YEAR’S THEME

How does Agriculture make Kentucky better? You could choose to write or show any of the following:

  • Agriculture provides food and resources. The Kentucky Farms Feed Me Virtual Field Trip Series (Primary) and Kentucky Food and Farm Files (Intermediate+) are great places for research.
  • Agriculture provides income and jobs for Kentuckians. Farmers earn money when they sell their agricultural products. When they reinvest in their farms, they create jobs for more people. Check out these Career Profiles to see how these Kentuckians make agriculture their profession!
  • Kentucky farms work diligently to protect our natural resources. Ensuring farms can continue to produce for Kentucky and beyond means our farmers take great pride in caring for the land. Visit these links for more information: 

         https://www.teachkyag.org/lessons/protecting-resources

         https://www.kyfoodandfarm.info/sustainability

Statewide poster and essay winners from each grade, Kindergarten through 12th grade, will be chosen, and an overall digital winner will be selected. Cash prizes will be presented to the winners at the 2025 Poster and Essay Awards Ceremony. Information regarding the ceremony will be released to the winners at a later date.

The winning entries will be displayed in the Commissioner’s Office in Frankfort, at the 2025 Kentucky State Fair, and on the KDA website.

Entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 7, 2025 and mailed to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, c/o Bethany Mattingly, 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601. A completed entry form must be taped or glued to the back of each entry. If all information on the entry form is not completed the submission will be disqualified. Submissions can be sent in by individuals and through your child’s school. Winners will be notified by Friday, April 18, 2025.

For more information go to “Forms & Documents” on the right-hand side of this webpage, including complete contest rules and entry forms, or contact this program at (502) 782-4125 or bethany.mattingly@ky.gov.