REYNOLDSBURG – Governor John R. Kasich and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels announced July 27 the winners of the 2016 “Agriculture is Cool!” visual arts contest. Ohio children enrolled in school or home schooled during the 2015-2016 academic year shared their personal interpretation of why Ohio agriculture is “cool” for their chance to win a trip to the Ohio State Fair.
Entries, which included photographs, drawings, and paintings, were judged in four different age categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Ten entries were selected as winners in their respective categories.
K-2 Photography: Abigail Davis, Wadsworth, Medina County, age 7;
K-2 Drawing: Grace Lucas, West Portsmouth, Scioto County, age 8;
3-5 Photography: Madilyn Johnson, Newark, Licking County, age 8 ½;
3-5 Drawing: Ella Bowman, Archbold, Fulton County, age 11;
6-8 Photography: Riley Yunker, Mount Gilead, Morrow County, age 11;
6-8 Drawing: Regan Draeger, Lindsey, Sandusky County, age 14;
9-12 Photography: Mackenzie Allen, Aurora, Portage County, age 17;
9-12 Drawing: Katelynn Fetters, Hillsboro, Highland County, age 17;
9-12 Painting: Sydney Hales, Oregon, Lucas County, age 15; and
Director’s Choice Jo Bailey, Wooster, Wayne County, age 10.
The winners were honored by Governor Kasich, Ohio Agriculture Director Daniels and Ohio State Fair Manager Virgil Strickler at a ceremony july 27 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.
“The Ag is Cool! program does a great job keeping our youth interested in agriculture,” said Director Daniels. “It is our hope that by sparking that interest, these outstanding kids will have a better understanding of this industry and will be moved to consider a food or agriculture related career in their future.”
This year marks the sixth year of the contest, and the sixth year of the “Ag is Cool!” educational program that is featured at the Ohio State Fair.
