The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation State Women’s Leadership Program is actively seeking submissions for their 2022 Essay Contest and Poster Contest. The program sponsors both contests each year to educate students about the importance of agriculture.
The Essay Contest is open to students in seventh through ninth grades. It prompts them to answer the question, “Why is agriculture important?” in an essay of 200 to 300 words. Judging criteria includes content and accuracy of information (50%), originality of thought (10%), clarity of expression (20%), and correct use
of grammar, spelling and punctuation (20%). The prizes are $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place.
The Poster Contest is open to students in fourth through sixth grades and asks them to show how food goes from farm to fork. The poster must be 14 by 22 inches (the size of half a poster sheet), but may be horizontal or vertical. It cannot use any well known or copyrighted characters. Judging criteria for this contest includes originality and creativity (25%), neatness (25%), and accuracy of the Farm to Fork
theme (50%). Prizes are $75 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place.
The deadline to enter both contests is Oct. 1, 2022. All submissions to the state contests will become the property of MFBF and may be used for promotional purposes. For complete guidelines and more information about each contest and others throughout the year, please go online to msfb.org/women/contests or contact your county Farm Bureau office.
2021 Essay Contest Winner
Alanah Cook
Center Hill Middle School
DeSoto County
Why Is Agriculture Important?
The foundation of civilization is built on agriculture or the practice of farming, cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops, rearing of animals and production of products. The dependency upon agriculture for economic growth/development, employment and food supply are a few of the major reasons agriculture is so vital to human existence, thus why it is important.
To this day, the science of agriculture produces the world’s main source of raw materials. Whether sugar, cotton, oil or wood, the dependency on the production of raw materials is critical to economic growth which enables International trade. According to World Integrated Trade Solution (2019), the US reported over $200 million in exported raw materials alone. Export is only a single source of revenue generation impacting economic growth.
Since the early 1600’s, people have relied on the cultivation of crops to make money.
According to www.worldhistory.org, tobacco was one of the first cash crops being cultivated by the English. Over the years, people have continued to profit from not only the sale of crops, but the act of farming itself resorting in the boom of businesses that support the agricultural sector such as machinery, manufacturing and processing companies.
Lastly, agriculture is a primary source of food. According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Ag and food sectors account for about one-fifth of the nation’s economic activity. This activity accounts for approximately 27% percent (roughly 2 billion) of the livelihoods as a product of agriculture.
In conclusion, agriculture is a primary driver of the economic growth/development, food supply and employment sectors – all vital to the development of our society today. Our reliance on agriculture has and always will be at the forefront of sustainability as we continue to progress and move forward as a nation.
2021 Poster Contest Winner
Karly Burge
Pearl River Central Middle School
Pearl River County
Farm-to-Fork Beef Cattle
