10-26-05 |
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SPONSORING FARM-CITY WEEK POSTER CONTEST
National Farm-City Week will celebrate its 50 th anniversary during the week of November 18-24, 2005, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is inviting students in kindergarten through sixth grade to enter a poster contest. The theme is "What does farming mean to you," and winners will be chosen from three age categories: Grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-6. Students can create their own poster or begin with the poster available, in PDF format, on the WVDA's webpage at http://www.wvagriculture.org/news_releases/2005/10-26-05.htm. Other educational materials are also available on this webpage. Deadline for entries is November 14. First place in each category will receive a $100 savings bond, second place will receive a $50 savings bond and third place finishers will receive a $25 savings bond. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Capitol Farmers' Market, in Charleston, November 17 at 5:30 p.m. Winning artists are invited to attend, but need not be present to receive their savings bonds. WVDA will hand out free candy apples to the public during the event. "The goal of Farm City Week is to increase awareness of the vast network of people, businesses and resources involved in providing a safe and plentiful food supply for America and much of the world," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. "Perhaps the best place to build that awareness is in our schools. Fewer and fewer people are involved in food production and many youngsters have little understanding of where their food comes from. We hope this contest will spur them to better appreciate what it takes to get a meal from the farm to the table." Agriculture employs more than 24 million workers in a wide variety of careers and adds $1.3 trillion to our nation's gross domestic product each year. Agriculture also provides fiber that is used for clothing and other textiles. Energy is another expanding use for agricultural products. Biodiesel and ethanol are renewable fuels that are increasing in popularity, and numerous methods of extracting energy from biomass are being explored.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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