Chattooga County Farm Bureau (CCFB) recently invited 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to enter the Georgia Farm Bureau Middle School Essay Contest.

The topic for 2016 was as follows:  “In a persuasive essay, show how modern agriculture has adopted the use of technology to sustain and improve resources while increasing food supplies.”  Three county-level winners were chosen out of twenty-nine entries.  Those winners were Bryana Whitaker, 1^st place, Summer Vaughn, 2^nd place, and Kim Truong, 3^rd place. County-level prizes were $25, $20, and $15, respectively. 

“It is predicted that our world population will reach 10 billion in 2050,” said Wayne Hurley, Chattooga County Farm Bureau president. “As our world population continues to grow, the challenge for ensuring an adequate food supply while preserving our resources also increases.”  

The purpose of this year’s Farm Bureau Essay Contest is to encourage students to explore and study how agriculture strives to meet increasing food demands through technology and other modern agriculture practices.  “Many people are unaware of how we as farmers are dedicated to continue to feed, clothe and fuel the world in a way that is healthy for the consumer and safe for the environment.  We depend on the years of research done by our scientists and others in achieving this goal.”

“This contest is a wonderful way for teachers and home school parents to encourage their students to learn more about agriculture, while meeting curriculum objectives,” said Linda Leslie, Chattooga County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee co-chairman.  “The topic encourages students to see how modern agriculture is meeting our increasing food needs.”

The Chattooga County Farm Bureau Essay Contest 1^st place winner, Bryana Whitaker, will be entered in the Georgia Farm Bureau 1st District competition. The district winner will receive a cash prize of $100.  The ten GFB district winners will compete for the state prize of $150 cash.  This contest is sponsored by Georgia Farm Bureau and coordinated by the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee.

Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization. Its volunteer members actively participate in local, district and state activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors. GFB also has 20 commodity advisory committees that give the organization input on issues pertinent to the major commodities grown in Georgia.