Students Selected as Agriculture in the Classroom Essay Contest Winners

Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom essay contest winners were honored by DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski at the DATCP Meeting in Port Milwaukee.

Eleanor Jones-Sato, a fourth-grade student from Janesville, and Bree Stalsberg, a fifth-grade student from Fennimore, have been selected as state winners in the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom essay contest. Wisconsin fourth and fifth graders were asked to write a 500-word essay with the theme, "Wisconsin Agriculture is Fruit-full!"

Eleanor Jones-Sato is the winner of the fourth-grade contest. Her teacher is Jennifer Nowotony at Roosevelt Elementary School in Janesville in Rock County. Bree Stalsberg is the winner of the fifth-grade contest. Her teacher is Emily Kamps at Fennimore Elementary School in Grant County. The winners were honored by Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski at the DATCP Board Meeting at Port Milwaukee.

Wisconsin agriculture is an integral part of our state's history, economy and culture – all important learning standards in both fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms," said Beth Schaefer, Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Coordinator. "Teachers and Agriculture in the Classroom volunteers work to ensure the annual essay contest supports and encourages students to learn about the critical role that agriculture plays in daily life so that students build an awareness and understanding of the food and fiber they use every day. This year's winners did an outstanding job researching and writing about Wisconsin fruits. We are excited to honor these talented young writers."

Bree Stalsberg

Each year Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Agriculture in the Classroom program hosts an essay contest to engage students in writing, reading and research through the context of food and agriculture. Essays were judged on content, grade-appropriate writing benchmarks and creativity. This contest is open to all fourth- and fifth-grade students across the state.

Over 1,400 students wrote essays for the competition, which is sponsored by WE Energies, Fork Farms and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation.

Eleanor Jones-Sato

Essay entries were judged at the county, district and state levels – with stiff competition in each division. Nine district winners were named state finalists and received a prize package including a medal and gift certificate. The state winner also received a plaque and prizes valued at over $250.

Farm Bureau's Agriculture in the Classroom program provides teachers and K-12 students with an understanding of how their food is produced. The program seeks to work within existing curricula to provide basic information on our nation's largest industry: agriculture. Wisconsin's Agriculture in the Classroom program is carried out by a network of local educators, volunteers and representatives from agricultural organizations and businesses. The goal of the program is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies.