Press Releases
Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles honored the 2016 Poster and Essay Contest winners July 15 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington. Pictured are, from left: first row – Jason McDonald, Jonathan Royalty, Marae Mallard, Cyrus Bivens, Karsten Ingalls, Karin Ingalls, Amanda Sublett, and Tyler Woodridge, the Kentucky winner of the Bonnie Plants cabbage competition; second row – Ayeliana Rowe, Sydney Cobb, Alec Clark, Bryanna Keith, Katrina Ingalls, Averi Clark, and Katrin Wilson; back row – Jacob Walters, Rachel Meadors, Lilly Marie Mooney, Nichole Thomas, Miss Kentucky 2016 Laura Jones, Commissioner Quarles, Colin Ingalls, and Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom chairman Tod Griffin. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo)
KDA honors 26 winners of 16th annual Poster and Essay Contest
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
For more information contact:
Angela Blank
(502) 573-0450
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Twenty-six winners of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA’s) 16th annual Poster and Essay Contest were honored at an awards ceremony Friday, July 15 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.
“This year’s theme, ‘Kentucky Agriculture: Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future,’ shows agriculture’s importance to the Commonwealth’s way of life and its future,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “The main goal of the contest was to get kids thinking about agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives. We want today’s children to understand where their food and everyday items come from.”
The winners and their parents and teachers enjoyed a meal featuring Kentucky Proud products. The opportunity to hold the awards ceremony at the ballpark, home of the Lexington Legends, was made possible by support from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund through the Kentucky Proud marketing campaign.
There were approximately 240 poster entries, approximately 95 essay entries, and two digital art entries. Statewide winners from kindergarten through 12th grade were awarded $100 provided by Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom (KyAEC).
Essay contest winners and schools in each grade were:
- Kindergarten: Caleb Brockman, Brockman Christian Academy
- First grade: no entries
- Second grade: co-winners Cyrus Bivens, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, and Karin Ingalls, Castle Hill Haven Academy
- Third grade: co-winners Kate Hayden, Calhoun Elementary School, and Marae Mallard, Good Shepherd Catholic School
- Fourth grade: Amanda Sublett, Tygart Creek Elementary School
- Fifth grade: Lexi Hayden, Calhoun Elementary School
- Sixth grade: Colin Ingalls, homeschool
- Seventh grade: no entries
- Eighth grade: Alec Clark, Jessamine County High School
- Ninth grade: Jacob Walters, LaRue County High School
- 10th grade: Katrina Ingalls, LaRue County High School
- 11th grade: Bryanna Keith, LaRue County High School
- 12th grade: Nichole Thomas, LaRue County High School
Poster contest winners and schools in each grade were:
- Kindergarten: Jason McDonald, Waco Elementary School
- First grade: Benjamin Caldbeck, Caldbeck Ag Education
- Second grade: Karsten Ingalls, homeschool
- Third grade: Ayleiana Rowe, Memorial Elementary School
- Fourth grade: Jonathan Royalty, homeschool
- Fifth grade: Laura Gibson, Highlands Latin School
- Sixth grade: Sydney Cobb, Maurice Bowling Middle School
- Seventh grade: Sierra Bosse, West Hardin Middle School
- Eighth grade: Lilly Marie Mooney, Mooney Homeschool
- Ninth grade: Katrin Wilson, Whispering Hills Christian Academy
- 10th grade: Sarah Caldbeck, Daviess County High School
- 11th grade: Averi Clark, Jessamine County 4-H (homeschool)
- 12th grade: no entries
Rachel Meadors of Whitley County High School won the digital art competition.
The statewide winner of the Bonnie Plants Third Grade Cabbage Contest was Tyler Wooldridge of Bridgeport Elementary School. He received a check for $1,000 for growing a 38-pound, 2-ounce cabbage, which he donated to a local soup kitchen.
To find out more about the Poster and Essay Contest, go to www.kyagr.com/agcontest. The contest theme corresponds with a KyAEC video: http://kyfoodandfarm.blogspot.com/p/overview-of-kentucky-agriculture.html.
