BISMARCK, N.D. — Wednesday was North Dakota Agriculture Day at the State Capitol.
“Our farmers and ranchers produce a wide array of products, used here and around the world,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “We want them to know that North Dakota appreciates all they do.”
Goehring said 20 agriculture-related organizations, associations and agencies participated in the event.
“Most of these groups had display booths and tables in the Memorial Hall,” he said. “We were glad to see legislators, Capitol employees and visitors stopping by these displays to learn more about the vital role of agriculture in our state.”
A news conference at 11:15 a.m. recognized winners of the 2017 Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Calendar Art Contest. The calendar art contest, which is new this year, invited third- to fifth-grade students to submit original artwork about North Dakota agriculture to be used in a calendar for agricultural literacy.
This year’s winners and artwork placements are:
- Saige Loll, Scranton, fifth grade – Cover
- Valeria Soriano Medrano, Bismarck, third grade – August
- Anna Trafton, Bottineau, fourth grade – September
- Chace Rolle, Leeds, fourth grade – October
- Jeremiah Schmidt, Tioga, third grade – November
- Madison Zimmerman, Elgin, fifth grade – December
- Maddix Falk, Ray, fifth grade – January
- Emma Swanson, Fargo, fifth grade – February
- Gina Quamme, Wahpeton, fifth grade – March
- Jewel Maxwell, Underwood, fourth grade – April
- Garrett Huizenga, Linton, third grade – May
- AmyLee Curry, Crystal, fifth grade – June
- Tyler Wilson, Scranton, fifth grade – July
The winners received certificates from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and a $25 cash prize from the North Dakota Department Bankers Association. Their artwork will also be published in the 2017-18 AITC school-year calendar, which will be distributed to classrooms around the state. Each day will feature a North Dakota agriculture fact.
A contest is held yearly in the spring to celebrate the contributions of farmers and ranchers and to increase awareness of the importance of agriculture in daily lives. The contest is administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the North Dakota Bankers Association.
— North Dakota Department of Agriculture
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