Students from across Wyoming learned more about agriculture again this year and were recently recognized for their participation in the 2016 Wyoming Farm Bureau (WyFB) “Ag Books for Kids” contests. The 2016 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 605 “Farm Life…We Live It, We Love It” books by Rianna and Sheridan Chaney 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 “Farm Life…We Live It, We Love It” and were forwarded to the state contest. See page 8 for district winners.

Coloring Contest

Fremont County first grader Rylee Dockery was the state winner of the coloring contest. Dockery received a $50 gift card from the Wyoming Farm Bureau and an agriculture book titled “Farm Life…We Live It, We Love It!” The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead. She is a first grader at Jeffrey City Elementary and her teacher is Mrs. Gores.

Madison Hatch, of Goshen County, was the state runner-up. Hatch received a $25 gift card and an agriculture book. She is a first grader in Mrs. Reichert’s class at Valley Christian School.

Poster Contest

Kamrie Bingham, of Albany County, won the state poster contest. Bingham received a $50 gift card and an agriculture book titled “Farm Life…We Live It, We Love It!”   The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead. Bingham’s teacher is Mrs. Sorenson at Linford Elementary.

Receiving a $25 gift card and a copy of “Farm Life…We Live It, We Love It” for the state runner-up was William Arens, of Albany County. Arens is in Mrs. Jensen’s class at Indian Paintbrush Elementary.

Creative Writing Contest

Goshen County fourth grader Alyssa Wondercheck won the creative writing contest. Wondercheck’s teachers are Mrs. Brummell and Mrs. Fullmer at Trail Elementary School. She received a $50 gift card from the Wyoming Farm Bureau and an agriculture book titled “Farm Life…We Live It, We Love It!” The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.

Fourth grader Lexie Marchant, of Crook County, was the state runner-up. She received a $25 gift card and an agriculture book. Her teacher is Mrs. Disney at Sundance Elementary.

“Educating elementary students about agriculture is key to our future in agriculture,” Raenell Taylor, WyFB YF&R Promotions Committee Chair, said. “It is very rewarding each year to see the elementary students improve upon the knowledge they are learning about agriculture while also helping them to put a face with agriculture."

In its twelfth 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.