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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HONORS FARM-CITY WEEK POSTER CONTEST WINNERS
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) kicked off National Farm-City Week and the Thanksgiving season November 17 by honoring nine schoolchildren from throughout the state for their winning entries in WVDA's Farm-City Week poster contest.
"I was very impressed with the response to the Department's first-ever Farm-City Week poster contest and the talent exhibited by these young artists," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. "I hope this contest helps raise their awareness about the complex system required to bring food from the farm to their kitchen table."
Seven of the nine winners joined Commissioner Douglass at Capitol Farmers' Market in Charleston for certificates and photographs. The event also featured free caramel apples for the public.
Agriculture employs more than 24 million workers in a wide variety of careers - from farm workers to food retailers - 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 winners will also be mailed savings bonds for their efforts. First place entries will receive a $100 saving bond, second place will receive a $75 savings bond and third place finishers will receive a $50 savings bond.
More than 200 entries were submitted overall. The theme of the contest was "What does farming mean to you," and winners were chosen from three age categories: Kindergarten through second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth and sixth grade.
The winners in the K-2 category were: First - John Monroe, kindergarten-age (home-schooled), Petersburg ; second - Justine Brookover, first grade, Worthington Elementary ( Parkersburg ); third - Rachel Spiker, first grade, Worthington Elementary ( Parkersburg ).
The winners in the third to fourth grade category were: First - Krystal Hughes, third grade, Lewisburg Elementary; second - Dylan Vidovich, fourth grade, Logan Elementary; third - McKayla Sizemore, fourth grade, Hamlin Elementary School .
The winners in the fifth to sixth grade category were: First - Katelynn Clark, fifth grade, Ashford-Rumble Elementary (Boone County); second - Tiffany Nelson, fifth grade, Ashford-Rumble Elementary (Boone County); third - Tristan Bowen, fifth grade, Ashford-Rumble Elementary (Boone County).
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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