GROWMARK is expanding its annual FFA essay contest.
According to Karen Jones ? GROWMARK?s youth and young producer specialist ? the GROWMARK System is excited to announce expanded eligibility for the 2022 GROWMARK FFA Essay Contest to the entire United States. Previously, it had been limited to FFA members in several Midwestern states, including Iowa.
?For the last 29 years, GROWMARK has sponsored an essay contest for FFA members in the Midwest,? said Jones. ?For a while it was just Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin students. In the last few years, we had expanded to a few more Midwestern states. But as our company footprint has grown ? and we are reaching more customers across the US ? it just made sense for us to open up eligibility to students in all 50 states. FFA members across the country can participate in this year?s essay contest. I?m really excited to open the doors to more students to participate.?
Jones explains that the 2022 GROWMARK essay contest theme is: ?What, in your opinion, has changed for the better in the agricultural industry as a result of the pandemic??
?I toyed with the idea of using the pandemic as our topic because it?s of course on everyone?s mind right now, but I wanted it to have a positive spin,? said Jones. ?I decided to ask the students to think about some of the good things that might have happened for agriculture. I have some ideas myself, so I?ll be interested to see what the students come up with.?
The essay contest is sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders. One national winner will receive a $1000 award, and their FFA chapter will receive $750. Four national runners-up will each receive $500, and their chapters will receive $300. States with at least 25 essays submitted will also have a state winner selected. Each school may submit one essay.
Essays should be submitted online at www.bit.ly/GMKEssay2022. The deadline for all submissions is midnight Central Time on October 29, 2021. Additional program details have been sent to agriculture teachers and are online at www.growmark.com.
