Every year, on National Ag Day, we take time to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. On March 19, 2024, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies, and countless others across America will join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture on the day’s 51st anniversary.
AGDAILY has long been an annual sponsor of National Ag Day, whose objective is to celebrate agriculture and to help consumers better understand how farmers and the companies serving them produce abundant, healthy, nutritious, and safe food while caring and tending to the land; leading the way in preservation and innovation for the health of our planet and our families.
One special event that takes place for National Ag Day has been a written essay and video essay contest. Students nationwide were invited to enter the National Ag Day written and video contest, sponsored by the Agriculture Council of America. This year, the contest is limited to video essay entrants only. The theme is Agriculture in the Future: If I Had Two Minutes to Talk to a Farmer.
First through third-place winners will receive $1500, $1,000, and $500 consecutively. Participants are encouraged to explore the future of agriculture and present their thoughts, ideas, and concerns concisely and engagingly.
The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in the 2023-24 school year. Contestants must be a U.S. citizen and attending school in the U.S. Contestants must meet all requirements to compete. All entries must be received at the Agriculture Council of America office by midnight CST, February 9, 2024.
All entrants are encouraged to support their position with facts when preparing for the contest. Don’t just tell a story. As you prepare your video, consider the following:
-
Address the future of agriculture and its impact on society, the environment, technology, and the economy.
-
Discuss innovative farming practices, sustainability, technological advancements, challenges faced by farmers, or any other relevant topic related to the future of agriculture.
-
Participants should imagine having a brief conversation with a farmer and convey their thoughts on the future of agriculture within the 2-minute timeframe.
National Ag Day
National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food, and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.
The National Ag Day program’s theme this year is Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow. Each year, programs encourages every American to:
- Understand how food, fiber, and fuel products are produced.
- Appreciate agriculture’s role in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products.
- Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
- Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, and fiber industries.
“More and more, students and individuals are finding careers in agriculture. The industry needs scientists, biologists, food safety technicians, livestock nutrition specialists, arborists, conservationists — one doesn’t have to be a farmer or have a direct on-farm job to be involved in the agriculture industry,” Pickett says.
Activities planned for March 19 feature a virtual Ag Day program, and in-person events in Washington, D.C. ACA will invite students to interact virtually with legislators and agency representatives, delivering the Ag Day message. A core leadership team of college students will participate in the DC events, along with representatives of national farm and commodity organizations, representatives of the food, fuel, and fiber communities.
Jenny Pickett, ACA President says students from AFA, 4-H, FFA, and MANNRS participated in 2023 National Ag Day. “Students are interested in advocating on behalf of agriculture and their future roles in the industry. Their participation in National Ag Day activities provides a glimpse of the future of agriculture. It’s exciting to learn from the students what they think agriculture will be like in the years ahead, and how their involvement will shape the industry and America as a whole.”
Visit the Ag Day website for more information on contest rules and entry forms and for information on National Ag Day 2024.
