LARAMIE--Students from across Wyoming learned more about beef cattle production and were recognized for their participation in the 2013 Wyoming Farm Bureau (WyFB) “Ag Books for Kids” contests.  The 2013 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 492 agriculture books to Wyoming elementary schools as part of the WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher Committee “Ag Books for Kids” project.  The 2013 book of the year was “Star Becomes a Mother” by Twins Rianna and Sheridan Chaney.  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 “Star Becomes a Mother” and were forwarded to the state contest. 

Coloring Contest

Lincoln County first grader Emma Hunsaker was the state winner of the coloring contest.  Hunsaker received a $50 cash prize from the Wyoming Farm Bureau and an agriculture book titled “Star Becomes a Mother.”  The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.  Hunsaker’s first grade teacher is Mrs. Bagley.   

Isabelle Spears, of Goshen County, was the second place state winner.  Spears received a $25 cash prize and an agriculture book.  Spears’ first grade teacher is Mrs. Nighswonger at Lingle Elementary.

Poster Contest

Faith Anderson, of Crook County, won the state poster contest.  Anderson received a $50 cash prize and an agriculture book titled “Star Becomes a Mother”   The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.  Anderson is a third grader in Campbell County Virtual School with teachers Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Anderson. 

Receiving a $25 cash prize and a copy of “Star Becomes a Mother” for the second place state finish was Reece Halley, of Goshen County.  Halley is a third grader in Mrs. Stalboerger’s class at Trail Elementary in Torrington.

Creative Writing Contest

Niobrara County fifth grader Kate Norman won the state creative writing contest.  Norman’s teacher is Mrs. Johnson at Lusk Elementary.  She received a $50 cash prize from the Wyoming Farm Bureau and an agriculture book titled “Star Becomes a Mother.”  The book was signed by the Honorable Governor Matt Mead.  

Fifth grader Kadra Clark, of Goshen County, was the second place state winner.  She received a $25 cash prize and an agriculture book.  Clark’s fifth grade teacher is Mr. Kinney at Trail Elementary in Torrington.

“We appreciate all the volunteers and schools who participated in the 2013 “Ag Books for Kids” program,” Raenell Taylor, WyFB YF&R Committee Chair, said.  “We are pleased with how many young students we are able to continue reaching with this classroom project.”

“Adding 492 books this year about agriculture to the elementary schools is exciting,” Taylor continued. 

“It is vital we continue to educate others, particularly the young students, about what we are and do as farmers and ranchers,” Taylor concluded.  “This year we included a second activity called “A Day Without Agriculture” which explained all the things a person will use in a day’s time that come from the agriculture industry.”

“The most rewarding part of this program is how effectively it works. While presenting to classrooms this spring, there were numerous students who remembered us and the topics we presented in previous years,” Heather Hamilton, WyFB YF&R Vice Chair/Promotions Sub-Committee chair, said.  “To me that is a sign of the success we are having in reaching young people and sharing with them the importance and relevance of the agriculture industry.”

In its ninth year, the “Ag Books for Kids” program is a project of the WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher Committee.  The program’s purpose is to educate children about agriculture and its importance to us all.  On the web, wyfb.org.

State Winners and State Runner-Ups Contest Entries