February 17, 2012
For more information: Joni Wallman, 317-692-7870
Mindy Reef, 317-692-7822, mreef@infarmbureau.org
Kathleen Dutro, 317-692-7824, kdutro@infarmbureau.org
Note to editors/news directors: This news release lists the district and county winners for the annual Lugar Essay Contest. Students from 31 counties participated. It makes for a very long release, but we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see all the names. — Indiana Farm Bureau’s PR Team
District winners announced for Farm Bureau essay contest
Twenty Indiana eighth-graders have been selected as finalists in the essay contest sponsored by Sen. Richard Lugar, Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Students from 31 counties participated in this year’s contest.
One boy and girl were chosen from each of Indiana Farm Bureau’s 10 districts after winning at the county level. Two state winners – one boy and one girl – will be announced at the IFB Spring Conference, which will be held in Indianapolis on March 9 and 10. 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.
“The role of the farm in a healthy diet” is the theme for the youth essay 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: Kyle Venditti of Crown Point, Taft Middle School; Rachel Stoner of Valparaiso, Morgan Township Middle School.
- District 2: Andrea Ledgerwood of Angola, Prairie Heights Middle School; Luke Lashure of Fort Wayne, St. Joseph Hessen Cassell.
- District 3: Ross Kindig of Brook, South Newton Middle School; Grace Ringer of Chalmers, Frontier Jr./Sr. High School.
- District 4: Carley Myers of Monroe, Adams Central; Will Harris of Kokomo, Northwestern Middle School.
- District 5: Jonathan Meredith of Danville, Cascade Middle School; Bailey Hayes of Rockville, Rockville Jr./Sr. High School.
- District 6: Aiden Foran of Indianapolis, Immaculate Heart of Mary; Karsyn Gaynor of Indianapolis, Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- District 7: Courtney Brown of Center Point, Clay City Jr./Sr. High School; Sam Ellis of Bloomington, Bachelor Middle School.
- District 8: Brevin Runnebohn of Milroy, Benjamin Rush Middle School; Elizabeth Field of Rushville, Benjamin Rush Middle School.
- District 9: Travis Koester of Wadesville, St. Wendel Catholic School; Halie Klueg of Evansville, Thompkins Middle School.
- District 10: Anne Franke of Seymour, Immanuel Lutheran; Jerry Clayton of Vevay, Switzerland County Middle School.
Each of the district winners first won at their respective counties. The remaining county winners are listed below:
Adams Triston Vetter Adams Central
Allen Haleigh DeVido St. Joseph Hessen Cassel
Bartholomew Aaron Kruchten Central Middle School
Bartholomew Audrey Wetzel Central Middle School
Benton Joe Stembel Benton Central Jr High
Benton Kendra Budreau Benton Central Jr High
Carroll Morgan Dominguez Delphi Community Middle School
Cass Derek Sullivan Southeastern School
Cass Jodi Aleshire Southeastern School
Crawford Nicholas Lahue Crawford Co Jr./Sr. High
Crawford Nickki Parks Crawford Co Jr./Sr. High
Decatur Mika Shook South Decatur Jr./Sr. High
Decatur Sam Owens South Decatur Jr./Sr. High
Franklin Dakota Busch Mt. Carmel
Franklin Sydney Browning Mt. Carmel
Gibson Cecilia Hall Saint James Catholic School
Hamilton Trenten Richardson Carmel Middle School
Howard Anna Ortman Northwestern Middle School
Jackson Christopher Rust St. Johns Lutheran - Sauers
Jay Abby Reier East Jay Middle School
Jay Brett Laux East Jay Middle School
Lake Mechai Sharks Our Lady of Grace
Newton Grace Wernert South Newton Middle School
Owen Caroline Sebastian Owen Valley M iddle School
Parke Ross Akers Rockville Jr./Sr. High School
Perry Izic Holmes Cannelton City Schools
Pike Taylor Carlisle Pike Central Middle School
Switzerland Destiny Marcum Switzerland County Middle School
Wayne Amanda Wilson Centerville Jr. High School
Wayne Conner Allen Centerville Jr. High School
White Grace Ringer Frontier Jr./Sr. High School
White Zeb Davis Frontier Jr./Sr. High School
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