Video and essay contest to promote ag

Classrooms across the country will soon be filled with students. And the timing couldn't be more perfect for the launch of the Reach, Teach, Learn video and essay contest being sponsored by Alpharma Animal Health. The contest began last year as a way to educate consumers about modern agricultural practices, and this year will include an inaugural essay contest being planned for high school students.

In it first year, the Reach, Teach, Learn Student Video Contest yielded 150 entries from major universities across the country. From those 150 short clips, five full-length videos were produced from the top group of entries. In the contest's final phase, videos were posted on YouTube, and nearly 8,000 votes were cast from some 15 countries. This year, a similar format will be followed, and the top three vote getters will be eligible for $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 cash prizes.

Meanwhile, an essay contest is being planned in partnership with Ag in the Classroom. The program includes development of curriculum for high school advanced-placement classes. The contest will allow students to share their views and opinions about agriculture based on a lesson plan, a select book, and an essay topic. Student prizes include a $500 first-place award, $250 for second, and $100 for third, while the schools from the top three will receive $1,000, $500, and $250. The teacher of the top essay student will receive a $2,000 grant to attend the Ag in the Classroom annual conference. Both contests begin in September and run through late December.

For more information go to www.reachteachlearn.com