HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the Spotted Lantern Fly calendar contest today at the 104th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show. The PDA holds this contest annually as an effort to continue to raise awareness about the threat of the Spotted Lanternfly.
“When an invasive species enters Pennsylvania, we need the help of our communities to eradicate it,” said Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding.” This contest educates students about the threat posed by this invasive insect, help Pennsylvanians better identify it, encourage discussions amongst students and their families, and provide awareness and engagement across the state. I commend the student’s hard work and dedication.”
Selected from more than 1,431 submissions, a drawing of the Spotted Lanternfly created by Annabelle Hoover, a 7th grader at Mechanicsburg Middle School in Cumberland County, has been honored as the Overall Winner. Her drawing will be featured as the cover of the 2020 Spotted Lanternfly Calendar. Hoover’s school will win a Spring assembly featuring prizes, activities, and a special guest.
Entries came from 87 schools/groups and 32 homeschoolers.
Winners were chosen based on creativity, ability to effectively communicate the theme, and the ability to follow the contest rules.
Winners for each corresponding month, grades, schools, counties, placings, and categories:
1st & 2nd Grades
1. (January) – Isabella Luetke, Worchester Elementary, 2nd Grade, Montgomery County
2. (May) – Lily Cornish, Worchester Elementary, 2nd Grade, Montgomery county
3. (September) – Elizabeth Pumford, Homeschooler, 2nd Grade, Indiana County
3rd & 4th Grades
1. (February) – Kaitlyn Singer, Sugartown Elementary, 4th Grade, Chester County
2. (June) – Collective Class, Seven Generations Charter School, 4th Grade, Lehigh County
3. (October) – Akshita Saraswat, Sugartown Elementary, 4th Grade, Chester County
5th & 6th Grades
1. (March) – Mithila Bristi, Samuel K. Faust Elementary, 6th Grade, Bucks County
2. (July) – Blake Lee, The Haverford School, 6th Grade, Delaware County
3. (November) – Erica Stauffer, Sunbury Christian Academy, 6th Grade, Northumberland County
7th & 8th Grades
1. (April) – Annabelle Hoover, Mechanicsburg Middle School, 7th Grade, Cumberland County
2. (August) – Ada Stapleton, Huntingdon Area Middle School, 8th Grade, Huntingdon County
3. (December) – Kaya Maciejewski, Pleasant Valley Ecology Club, 8th Grade, Monroe County
The contest was open to students across the commonwealth in grades 1-8. Contestants entered by sending their entries to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Entries should have included one fact about the Spotted Lanternfly, an original 11” x 17” horizontal poster created by the student, and a complete contest submission rule taped to the back of the poster. Judges for the contest were from the Department of Agriculture, and knowledgeable on the Spotted Lanternfly. Finalists will have their entries printed in the 2020 calendar, produced by the PDA.
The Spotted Lanternfly is an inch-long, black, red, and, white spotted insect native to Southeast Asia and first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014. The invasive insect feeds on agricultural goods produced in the state, such as apples, grapes, hops, and hardwoods.
Find out more about Spotted Lanternfly at www.agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly, https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly,www.aphis.usda.gov/hungrypest/slfOpens In A New Window.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to our capital city every year for a mid-winter celebration of Pennsylvania agriculture. It is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the nation, featuring nearly 12,000 competitive exhibits, including more than 5,200 animal competitions, plus 300 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational, entertaining events. Visitors get a peek into the industry that employs nearly half a million people and contributes $135.7 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy every year.
–Shannon Powers, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture