Bloomington, IL - Jan. 10, 2019 - John Schubbe of Peotone, Illinois, Tyler Tessman of Audubon, Iowa, Taylor Case of Russellville, Missouri, Cori Lee of Marysville, Ohio, and Marie Hamlin of Roberts, Wisconsin, have been named state winners of the 2019 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members.
The theme of this year's contest was "What does the future of agriculture look like to you, and what skills will you need to play a part in it?"
Schubbe is a student at Peotone High School and a member of the Peotone FFA Chapter. His FFA advisor is Abby Jacobs.
Tessman is a student at Audubon High School and a member of the Audubon FFA Chapter. His FFA advisor is Brittany Elmquist.
Case is a student at Cole R-1 Russellville High School and a member of the Russellville FFA Chapter. Her FFA advisor is Ellen Amos.
Lee is a student at Marysville High School and a member of the Marysville FFA Chapter. Her FFA advisor is Shari Anderson.
Hamlin is a student at St. Croix Central High School and a member of the St. Croix Central FFA Chapter. Her FFA advisor is Gretchen Rozeboom.
Each state's contest winner receives a $500 award from GROWMARK at their state FFA convention.
The winner's FFA 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 FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order by state: Graham Bishop, Athens FFA, Springfield, Illinois; Erin Henze, Eastland FFA, Shannon, Illinois; Michael Seabloom, Orion FFA, Lynn Center, Illinois; and Travis Wilke, Olney FFA, Olney, Illinois.
Kaitlyn Bean, North Linn FFA, Walker, Iowa; Catie Collison, South Central Calhoun FFA, Lake City, Iowa; Marie Knepper, Cascade FFA, Cascade, Iowa; and Ben Vos, Pella Christian FFA, Pella, Iowa. Emily Christan, Hermitage FFA, Hermitage, Missouri; Jacob Knaebel, Fatima FFA, Jefferson City, Missouri; Emily Meyer, Bowling Green FFA, Bowling Green, Missouri; and Tessa Travelute, King City FFA, Union Star, Missouri.
Nora Beresik, Fort Loramie-UVCC FFA, Fort Loramie, Ohio; Jerilyn Garrett, Peebles FFA, Peebles, Ohio; Erin Green, Carrollton FFA, Carrollton, Ohio; and Rose Zeedyk, Fairview FFA, Ney, Ohio. Chelsea Braun, Kiel FFA, New Holstein, Wisconsin; Sara Nehring, Weyauwega-Fremont FFA, Weyauwega, Wisconsin; Madison Russell, Shullsburg FFA, Shullsburg, Wisconsin; and Douglas Woyak, Elkhorn FFA, Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
This is the 26th 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.
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $7.3 billion (FY 2017 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services throughout North America.
Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives.
For more information, please contact Karen Jones at 309-557-6184 or kjones@growmark.com