By Marlee Moore

A myriad of media was available for contestants to explore and use when illustrating the 2020 Farm-City theme, “Sweet Grown Alabama.”

Eighteen students representing 14 counties were honored for their creativity during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Program in Birmingham April 8. Contests spanned three categories — posters, essays and videos.

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms applauded the students’ artistry, depicted with posters, crayons and markers; language and Word documents; and graphics and video footage.

“These students showed how sweet the bounty of Alabama agriculture really is,” Helms said. “Our judges were impressed with all entrants’ work, and we’re thankful our friends at Alabama Farmers Cooperative are again sponsoring cash prizes for these winning contestants and matching awards for their schools.”

The theme supported Alabama’s state agricultural branding program. Learn more by visiting  SweetGrownAlabama.org. 

Poster Contest, Kindergarten-Third Grade

° First place and $200 — Maddie Jane Shealy, second grade, Lineville Elementary School in Clay County

° Second place and $100 — Lydia Darley, third grade, Ariton Elementary School in Dale County

Poster Contest, Fourth-Sixth Grade

° First place and $200 — Maddie Thomas, fifth grade, Ariton Elementary School in Dale County

° Second place and $100 — Caiden Granger, fifth grade, Lakewood Elementary School in Russell County

Eight students also received an honorable mention and $50 through the poster contest.

° Chloe Walker, second grade, Fairview Elementary School in Cullman County

° Jeremiah Bates, second grade, Caldwell Elementary in Jackson County

° Adley Sellers, third grade, Bagley Elementary in Jefferson County 

° Addison Heath, third grade, Sulligent School in Lamar County

° Emma Leigh Orr, fourth grade, Beauregard Elementary in Lee County

° McKinley Morris, fifth grade, Hartselle Intermediate School in Morgan County

° Loxley Lankford, fourth grade, Pike Liberal Arts School in Pike County

° Mallory Campbell, fourth grade, Munford Elementary in Talladega County

The 2022 Alabama Farm-City Calendar will feature poster winners and honorees, in addition to winning essays.

Essay Contest, Seventh-Ninth Grade

° First place and $300 — Nicholas Sasser, ninth grade, Central Freshman Academy in Russell County

° Second place and $200 — Molly Kate Williamson, ninth grade, First Assembly Christian School in Clay County

Essay Contest 10th-12th Grade

° First place and $300 — Aisha Nasser, 12th grade, Hubbertville School in Fayette County

° Second place and $200 — Holly Ellis, 12th grade, Skyline High School in Jackson County

Video Contest

° First place and $300 — Rio Murray, 12th grade, Munford High School in Talladega County 

° Second place and $200 — Miley Taylor, 10th grade, Crenshaw County Career Academy in Crenshaw County.