A high school student from Audubon County was one of four winners in an essay contest for active FFA members, sponsored by Growmark. Anna Campell, of Hamlin, joined students in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin as State winners in the contest, the theme for which was “How can cooperatives demonstrate their value to the next generation of agriculturists?”​

2018 is the 25th year for the essay contest sponsored by GROWMARK and participating FS member cooperatives. The goal of the contest is to encourage students to develop writing skills, learn about current issues impacting agriculture and understand the unique role of cooperatives. You can view her essay under a pdf of her essay, here:  2018-Iowa-Winning-Essay

State winners receive a $500 award. The FFA chapter of the state winner receives $300 award, and four runners-up per state: each receive a $125 award.

This Year’s Topic: The average age of farmers in the United States is 55 years old, meaning many current farmers are nearing retirement age. Cooperatives have played a vital role in agriculture for many years, offering products, services, and expertise to help farmers increase efficiency and profitability, while keeping up with a rapidly changing industry. As a younger generation steps up to fill their shoes, they will need a wide variety of resources and technology to be successful. What does the next generation of agriculturists need from a cooperative partner, and how can cooperatives work with young farmers to remain relevant?