SD Ag in the Classroom and SD Farm Families Host Essay Contest

SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Feb. 5, 2013  

Media Contact: Ann Price, 605-853-6040 

SD Ag in the Classroom and SD Farm Families Host Essay Contest

PIERRE, S.D.- South Dakota Ag in the Classroom (SDAC) and South Dakota Farm Families (SDFF) are hosting an essay contest for third and fourth grade students across South Dakota.


The topic for this year’s contest is “How Agriculture Impacts Me Every Day.” The winning student will receive a classroom pizza party hosted by SDFF, a visit from a local agricultural producer, and a certificate. The winning essay will be published on SDAC and SDFF websites and Facebook pages.


“By having to do some research before writing about the impact agriculture has on their everyday lives, youth are enlightened as to just how many times each day they experience some aspect of agriculture, even if they don’t live on a farm,” said Ann Price, Executive Director for SDAC.


“South Dakota dairy and hog farmers have been visiting classrooms as a part of Ag United’s ‘National Ag Week’ activities for six years now,” said Kelly Nelson, Outreach Director for SDFF. “We are excited to be partnering with South Dakota Ag in the Classroom to add the essay portion to the Ag Week activities.”


Third- and fourth-grade teachers are encouraged to utilize this contest as a writing exercise for their classrooms.


“Entire classrooms can submit essays,” Nelson said. “The more students from a single classroom who enter, the greater the chances that room will be having pizza for lunch one day.”


“This contest was designed to meet the Common Core standards for writing,” Price added. “Teachers can use this as a practice activity before the Dakota STEP tests. They can refer to the entry blank on the website to see exactly what standards are being met.”


Any third- or fourth-grade student in South Dakota can enter. Entries are due March 1, with the winner announced March 15 on the SDAC and SDFF Facebook pages.


Entry forms can be found on the SDFF (www.agunited.org) and SDAC (www.agclassroom.org/sd) websites. Students should submit their 100-250 word essays by March 1 to Ag Week Essay Contest, c/o South Dakota Ag in the Classroom, PO Box 402, Miller, SD, 57362 or e-mail them to sdagclassroom@yahoo.com with the subject line “Ag Week Essay Contest.” Contact Price at sdagclassroom@yahoo.com or 605-853-6040 with questions.


Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, generating more than $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 122,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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