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12-4-2007

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HONORS FARM-CITY WEEK POSTER CONTEST WINNERS

Ravenswood Middle School was the big winner in the 2007 National Farm City Week poster contest, sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). Despite entries from numerous schools throughout West Virginia, Ravenswood swept the category for fifth and sixth graders and took third place in the K-2 category.

Winners were honored by Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass at a ceremony November 16 at Capitol Market in Charleston. The theme of the contest was “Agriculture – No Farm, No Food,” and students were asked to create a poster showing what the theme means to them.

L-R: Trace Boso, Third Place (Grades 5-6), Ravenswood Middle School; Nicole Williams, First Place (Grades 3-4) Beale Elementary (Gallipolis Ferry); Michelle Riffle, First Place (Grades 5-6) Ravenswood Middle School; Ben Smith, Third Place (Grades K-2), Henry J. Kaiser Elementary School (Ravenswood); Isaac Altizer, Second Place (Grades K-2), Marlinton Elementary. Winners of the 2007 Farm City Poster attended the Awards Ceremony at Capitol Market on November 16 and received their certificates and checks from Commissioner Douglass.

“This contest is an effort by the WVDA to stimulate thought on the part of our youngsters about the importance of agriculture to our society,” said Commissioner Douglass. “I would like to thank all the teachers and students who participated. There were hundreds of entries and I hope we helped to raise the agricultural awareness of everyone who participated.”

National Farm-City Week takes place each year during the week immediately preceding Thanksgiving Day and recognizes the contributions made by both rural and urban America in providing consumers a safe, wholesome and affordable food supply.
     For more information on the contest, contact WVDA’s Communications Division at 304-558-3708. For more information on National Farm-City Week visit www.farmcity.org.

     Entries were broken down into three age categories: Grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-6. First place in each category received a $75 cash prize, second place received a $50 cash prize and third place received a $25 cash prize.

The winners were in grades K-2 were:

• First place, Jennifer Diaz, Valley View Elementary in Martinsburg
• Second place, Isaac Altizer, Marlinton Elementary
• Third place, Ben Smith, Henry J. Kaiser Elementary in Ravenswood

The winners in grades 3-4 were:

• First place, Nicole Williams, Beale Elementary in Gallipolis Ferry
• Second place, Cynthia Casto, Leon Elementary
• Third place, Erin McGowan, Blue Ridge Elementary in Harpers Ferry

The winners in grades 5-6 were:

• First place, Michelle Riffle, Ravenswood Middle
• Second place, Elias McKown, Ravenswood Middle
• Third place, Trace Boso, Ravenswood Middle

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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