MONTGOMERY, Ala., May 13 — Young artists and storytellers were honored during the Alabama Farm-City Awards livestream May 12 for showcasing how farmers “Keep Alabama Growing.” 

Students from Autauga, Houston, Lawrence and Shelby counties took home top honors in the state Farm-City poster, essay and video contests. The contestants earned the opportunity to compete for state awards by winning their county contests last fall.

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms said the “Keep Alabama Growing” theme encouraged competitors to explore the diversity and importance of agriculture and forestry.

“Since 1955, Farm-City Week has been observed for seven days before Thanksgiving as a time to foster understanding between farmers and their city neighbors,” Helms said. “In Alabama, the poster, essay and video programs have the most lasting impact on the Farm-City mission because they plant seeds of understanding with students who may never live on a farm.”

Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) sponsored cash prizes for winning contestants and matching awards for their schools. AFC serves farmers, gardeners and homeowners with about 80 Quality Co-op stores in Alabama, Florida and Tennessee.

An awards luncheon was originally planned for April 2 in Birmingham but was cancelled due to restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. The winning posters, essays and video are viewable online at AlabamaFarmCity.org, along with a program listing other Farm-City awards.

Poster Contest, Kindergarten — Third Grades

• First place and $200 — Sam Thornton, first grade, Heard Elementary School in Houston County
• Second place and $100 — Danie Fielder, third grade, Munford Elementary School in Talladega County

Poster Contest, Fourth — Sixth Grades

• First place and $200 — Kendall McVay, fourth grade, Moulton Elementary School in Lawrence County
• Second place and $100 — Will Thornton, sixth grade, Carver School of Math, Science and Technology in Houston County

Eight students received an honorable mention and $50 from AFC through the poster contest. They are:

• Asa Thompson, fourth grade, Pike Liberal Arts in Pike County
• Maggie Phillips, first grade, Good Hope Primary in Cullman County
• Kadence Provens, third grade, Caldwell Elementary in Jackson County
• Corey Ellis, second grade, Bear Exploration Center in Montgomery County
• David Thomas Aldridge, fifth grade, homeschooled in Fayette County
• Mattie Wisener, sixth grade, Arab Junior High in Marshall County
• Greer Jones, fourth grade, Ariton Elementary in Dale County
• Emerson Champagne, third grade, Southside Elementary School in Etowah County

The 2020 Alabama Farm-City Calendar will feature poster contest winners and honorees.

Essay Contest, Seventh — Ninth Grades

• First place and $300 — Audrey Teaster, freshman, Autauga Academy in Autauga County
• Second place and $200 — Ciara Laird, freshman, New Life Christian Academy in Pike County

Read the winning essays in the PDF below.

Essay Contest, Tenth — Twelfth Grades

• First place and $300 — Emma Wendland, senior, Autauga Academy in Autauga County
• Second place and $200 — Alex Simmons, junior, Elmore County High in Elmore County

Video Contest

• First place and $300 — Marion Bell, junior, homeschooled in Shelby County
• Second place and $200 — Rio Murray, junior, Munford High in Calhoun County

Contact

Jeff Helms
(334) 613-4212