Eighteen Students Named State Finalists in the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Essay Contest

Eighteen young writers were named state finalists in the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Essay Contest. Wisconsin fourth and fifth graders were asked to author an essay with the theme ‘Wisconsin Agriculture is Fruit-full!' as part of the annual essay contest that focuses on food and agriculture. The contest is open to all fourth- and fifth-grade students across the state, with each grade level judged as its own division.

Over 1,400 students authored essays for the competition, which is sponsored by Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, Fork Farms and WE Energies. County winners in both fourth- and fifth-grade moved on to their respective district levels, and these district winning essays are now vying for the title of state winner. The state winner will be announced in early June and awarded at the Wisconsin DATCP Board July Meeting to be held in Milwaukee on July 12, 2024.

The 18 district winners received a prize package including a medal, certificate and Culver's gift card. This year's state essay contests finalists are:

Fourth-Grade State Finalist Essays

• District 1 – "Cranberriesquot; by Romeo Suarez, Trinity Lutheran Freistadt, Mequon
• District 2 – "The Sweetness of a Strawberryquot; by Eleanor Jones-Sato, Roosevelt Elementary School, Janesville School District
• District 3 – "Wisconsin Agriculture is Fruit-Fullquot; by Kellan Ingham, Prairie Catholic, Prairie du Chien
• District 4 – "Wisconsin's Super Strawberriesquot; by Rosalea Dahl, Cochrane-Fountain City, Fountain City
• District 5 – "The Wisconsin Fruit Dog's Lovequot; by Sierra Drake, Omro Elementary School, Omro
• District 6 – "Pears in Wisconsinquot; by Abigail Dallmann, Holy Family Catholic School, Brillio
• District 7 – "Cranberryquot; by Ryder B., St. James Lutheran, Shawano
• District 8 – "CRAZY For Cranberries!!quot; by Kaitlyn Russell, Washington Elementary, Wisconsin Rapids
• District 9 – "Wisconsin Cherriesquot; by Eliana Webb, Oaklawn Elementary, Menomonie School District

5th Grade State-Finalist Essays

• District 1 – "Crazy for Cranberriesquot; by Cashton Peterson, Yorkville Elementary
• District 2 – "Wisconsin Agriculture in Fruit-Full with Cranberriesquot; by Mason Peterson, Rio Elementar
• District 3 – "Pumpkins in Wisconsinquot; by Bree Stalsberg, Fennimore Elementary School
• District 4 – "Strawberriesquot; by Madilyn Bredow, Pepin Area Schools
• District 5 – "Wisconsin's Fruit-Full Tourquot; by Hadley Barreau, Wonewoc-Center Elementary, Wonewoc-Center School District
• District 6 – "Wisconsin Agriculture is Fruit-Fullquot; by Anna Van Maaren, Divine Savior, Kiel
• District 7 – "Cherriesquot; by Leikyn Vele, New London Intermediate School Middle School, New London
• District 8 – "Cherries in Wisconsinquot; by Harriet Gordon, Mosinee Middle School, Mosinee
• District 9 – "Cranberry History in Wisconsinquot; by Clyde Score, Tiffany Creek Elementary, Boyceville

As part of this year's contest, schools of participating writers were entered for a chance to win a Flex Farm Hydroponic System as part of a giveaway to promote the contest. The Flex Farm is courtesy of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation and Fork Farms. The lucky winner is Prairie Ridge Intermediate School, Reedsburg. The hydroponic system will allow the school to continue offering hands-on agricultural learning opportunities for students and offer the potential to grow Wisconsin's sweetest agricultural product – fruit.