Four FFA members have successfully answered GROWMARK’s question “How can cooperatives demonstrate their value to the next generation of agriculturists?” Ross Tompkins of Smithboro, Illinois, Anna Campbell of Hamlin, Iowa, Chloe Momphard of Troy, Missouri, and Audrey Pelikan of Jefferson, Wisconsin, have been named state winners of the 2018 GROWMARK essay contest.
Tompkins is a student at Mulberry Grove High School and a member of the Mulberry Grove FFA chapter. Campbell is a student at Audubon High School and a member of the Audubon FFA chapter. Momphard is a student at Troy Buchanan High School and a member of the Troy FFA chapter. Pelikan is a student at Jefferson High School and a member of the Jefferson FFA chapter.
Each state’s contest winner receives a $500 award from GROWMARK at their state FFA convention. The winner’s chapter also receives a $300 award in honor of their accomplishment.
Four runners-up in each state receive a $125 award. The runners-up and their chapters are, in alphabetical order by state:
- Brynn Bergen, Mercer County FFA, Seaton, Illinois; Mackenzie Brackett, LeRoy FFA, LeRoy, Illinois; Connor Sullivan, West Prairie FFA, Colchester, Illinois; and Sean Welch, ROWVA FFA, Knoxville, Illinois.
- Kanyon Huntington, East Union FFA, Afton, Iowa; Austin Miller, North Linn FFA, Walker, Iowa; Rease Morris, Collins-Maxwell FFA, Maxwell, Iowa; and Rebecca Wilson, Lone Tree FFA, Conesville, Iowa.
- Karli Amos, Monroe City FFA, Monroe City, Missouri; Cole Hammett, Ashland FFA, Ashland, Missouri; Alyssa Kothe, Salisbury FFA, Salisbury, Missouri; and Grace Owen, Norborne FFA, Norborne, Missouri.
- Kendra Gillett, Beaver Dam FFA, Fall River, Wisconsin; Peter Gorman, New London FFA, Manawa, Wisconsin; Trevor Messmer, Lake Mills FFA, Lake Mills, Wisconsin; and Madison Russell, Shullsburg FFA, Shullsburg, Wisconsin.
This is the 25th year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.
