Indiana Ag Connection - District Winners Announced in Farm Bureau Essay Contest

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District Winners Announced in Farm Bureau Essay Contest
Indiana Ag Connection - 02/08/2010

Twenty Indiana eighth-graders have been selected to be finalists in the essay contest sponsored by Sen. Richard Lugar, Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. A total of 632 students from 42 counties participated in this year's contest.

One boy and girl were chosen from each of Indiana Farm Bureau's 10 districts. Two state winners -- one boy and one girl -- will be announced at the IFB Spring Conference, which will be held in Indianapolis on March 12 and 13. Each of the finalists wins a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, while the state winners will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

"Farmers Looking at a Bright Future" is the theme for the youth essay contest, according to IFB 2nd Vice President Isabella Chism. Chism chairs the Women's Leadership Committee, which is in charge of the annual contest.

The contest began in 1985 and is designed to increase young Hoosiers' awareness of the significance of Indiana agriculture, how it relates to the supply of food and fuel and to their health. The finalists are listed below.

-- District 1: Luke Kepler of Argos, attends Argos Jr. High School, son of Mark and Roberta Kepler; Alexandra Magallon of Highland, attends Our Lady of Grace, daughter of Melecio and Sonia Magallon.

-- District 2: Ashley Kain of Orland, attends Prairie Heights Community, daughter of Dan and Tabby Kain; Curtis Mourey of Fort Wayne, attends St. Joseph Hessen Cassel School, son of Greg and Michelle Mourey.

-- District 3: Pamela Kuechenmeister of Lake Village, attends North Newton Jr./Sr. High, daughter of Jan and Ken Honkisz; Colton Underwood of West Lafayette, attends Battle Ground Middle School, son of Kevin and Sherry Underwood.

-- District 4: Collin Saxman of Portland, attends East Jay Middle School, son of Misty and Bill Saxman; Kathleen Jacobs of Huntington, attends Riverview Middle School, daughter of Paul and Heidi Jacobs.

-- District 5: Deena Hesselgrave of Gosport, attends Cloverdale Middle School, daughter of Tina Lundsford; Joe Littiken of Quincy, also attends Cloverdale Middle School, son of Jim and Jane Littiken.

-- District 6: Carson Bailey of Richmond, attends Seton Catholic School, son of Paul and Diane Bailey; Annie Chalfant of Parker City, attends Twelve-Seven Learning Center, daughter of Tom and Mollie Chalfant.

-- District 7: Hannah Kocher of Linton, attends Linton Stockton Junior High, daughter of Jamie and Marti Kocher; Seth Black of Terre Haute, attends Honey Creek Middle School, son of Steven and Angela Black.

-- District 8: Tyler Combs of Columbus, attends Central Middle School, son of Brian and Sandy Combs; Layne Sanders of Greensburg, attends Greensburg Junior High, daughter of Scott and Beth Sanders.

-- District 9: Jordan Cadle of Orleans, attends Paoli Jr./Sr. High, son of Danny and Katie Cadle; Jennifer Riedford of Owensville, attends Fort Branch Community, daughter of Mark and Maria Riedford.

-- District 10: Tess Stoops of Vevay, attends Switzerland County Middle School, daughter of Beverly and Anthony Stoops; Trey Embrey of New Albany, attends Our Lady of Perpetual Help, son of Allison and William Embrey.