LARAMIE--Students from across Wyoming learned more about agriculture and were recently recognized for their participation in the 2014 Wyoming Farm Bureau (WyFB) “Ag Books for Kids” contests.  The 2014 contests included:  Coloring Contest for kindergarten and first grade; Poster Contest for second and third graders; and a Creative Writing Contest for fourth and fifth graders. 

This year county Farm Bureaus across the state donated 497 “Pigs & Pork in the story of agriculture” by Susan Anderson and JoAnne Buggey to Wyoming elementary schools as part of the WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher Committee “Ag Books for Kids” project.  The students then had the opportunity to participate in a contest to show what they learned about agriculture. 

County winners were forwarded to the district where three winners were selected.  District winners all received a copy of “Pigs & Pork in the story of agriculture” and were forwarded to the state contest. 

Coloring Contest

Lincoln County first grader Makell Haderlie was the state winner of the coloring contest.  Haderlie received a $50 cash prize from the Wyoming Farm Bureau and an agriculture book titled “Pigs & Pork in the story of agriculture.”  The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.  Haderlie is in Hunsaker’s class at Afton Elementary. 

Miryah Lundin, of Crook County, was the state runner-up.  Lundin received a $25 cash prize and an agriculture book.  Lundin is a first grader (Snook’s class) at Hulett Elementary. 

Poster Contest

Owen Burnett, of Lincoln County, won the state poster contest.  Burnett received a $50 cash prize and an agriculture book titled “Pigs & Pork in the story of agriculture.”   The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.  Burnett is a third grader in Mrs. Willoghby’s class at Kemmerer Elementary School.

Receiving a $25 cash prize and a copy of “Pigs & Pork in the story of agriculture” for the state runner-up was Gabby McVay, of Weston County.  McVay is a third grader in Mrs. Tysdal’s class at Newcastle Elementary.

Creative Writing Contest

Crook County fourth grader Faith Anderson won the creative writing contest.  Anderson’s teachers are Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Anderson at the Campbell County Virtual School.  She received a $50 cash prize from the Wyoming Farm Bureau and an agriculture book titled “Pigs & Pork in the story of agriculture.”  The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.  

Fourth graderKaycee McBride, of Laramie County, was the state runner-up.  She received a $25 cash prize and an agriculture book.  Her fourth grade teacher is Mrs. Cushing at Carpenter Elementary.

“Educating elementary students about agriculture is key to our future in agriculture,” Raenell Taylor, WyFB YF&R State Chair, said.  “It is exciting that we have this many agriculture books donated to educate the youth of our state about the importance of pigs and the pork industry and agriculture as a whole.”

In its tenth year, the “Ag Books for Kids” program is a project of the WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher Committee.  The grassroots efforts of the county Farm Bureaus who donate the books and help educate about agriculture contributes greatly to the program’s success.  The program’s purpose is to educate children about agriculture and its importance to us all. 

On the web, wyfb.org.