Winners named in GFB Art Contest

State Winner: Dylan Keith Ross, Coffee Co. (10th District)

Runner-Up: Casey Jones, Brooks Co. (9th District)

Georgia high school art students participating in the Georgia Farm Bureau Art Contest learned about the state’s number one industry as they illustrated scenes of Georgia agriculture.

The Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee annually coordinates the contest in conjunction with county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees for the purpose of encouraging Georgia students to creatively explore Georgia agriculture.

Coffee County student Dylan Keith Ross was recently named the state winner of the contest, open to any student in 9th-12th grade. Ross received a $75 cash prize for being the top art contest winner from GFB’s 10th District and a $250 cash prize for being the state winner. He is the son of Keith Ross and Amy Hunkapiller. He is a recent graduate of Coffee County High School.

Casey Jones of Brooks County, 9th District, and Jayce Seymour of Elbert County, 2nd District, were named state runners-up in the art contest. Each received a $150 cash prize as their state prize and $75 cash as their district prize. Casey is the son of Alan and Lynn Jones of Quitman. Jayce is the daughter of Denny and Donna Seymour of Elberton.

A winner was selected from each of the organization’s ten districts. Drawings were judged on artistic merit and how well the artwork represents Georgia agriculture.

Other district winners in the art contest were: Johnny Magano, Bartow County, 1st District; Bartavious Kendaris Weaver, Newton County, 3rd District; Eden Phillips, Oglethorpe County, 4th District; Alana Katherine Burson, Monroe County, 5th District; Crystal Elizabeth Webster, Washington County, 6th District; Tami King, Bryan County, 7th District and Jamaal Young, Randolph County, 8th District.

Runner-Up: Jayce Seymour, Elbert Co. (2nd District)

The artwork of the state and district winners will be featured in a 2006 calendar that will be printed by Georgia Farm Bureau this fall. Contact Donna Rocker at dhrocker@gfb.org to obtain a copy.

“Our goal in conducting the art and essay contests is to give Georgia students a chance to creatively explore Georgia agriculture,” Georgia Farm Bureau President said. “All of our district and state winners are to be commended as we had fifty-four entries in the Essay Contest and fifty-two entries in the Art Contest.”

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GFB Women’s Committee names
essay contest winners

Banks County student Joshua Curtis Brock was named the state winner of the GFB Essay Contest open to students in 6th-8th grade.

The Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee in conjunction with County Farm Bureau Women’s Committees annually coordinates the contest.

Essay contest participants were asked to complete the statement, “Georgia farmers are my heroes because…” Contest winners were selected from each of the organization’s ten districts. Entries were judged on clarity of thought and creativeness.

Brock received a $75 cash prize for being the top essay contest winner from GFB’s 2nd District and a $150 cash prize as the state winner. He is the son of Curtis and Jacque Brock of Carnesville. He was a 6th grade student at Banks County Middle School when he wrote his essay.

Other district winners in the essay contest were: Brandon Reynolds, Chattooga County, 1st District; Cody Walden, Newton County, 3rd District; Logan Greenway, Barrow County, 4th District; David Henry, Lamar County, 5th District; Taylor Faircloth, Twiggs County, 6th District; Kaci Epps, Evans County, 7th District; Maggie McLeod-Taylor, Sumter County, 8th District; Rhodes Collier, Early County, 9th District and Casey Kimbrell, Jr., Pierce County, 10th District.

Brock’s winning essay appears below.

The Georgia Farmer
By Joshua Brock, Banks County (2nd District)

Georgia farmers are the true unsung heroes. They provide many things all of us need to live and do our job. These hard-working people are the centerpiece of Georgia’s economy. I know, if it were not for these great people’s work, citizens of Georgia, and Georgia itself could not survive.

Webster’s definition of a farmer is a person who owns or manages a farm; one who makes a living by growing crops or keeping livestock, but a farmer is so much more. A farmer truly appreciates the land’s potential. They know how vital it is to preserve the earth. They understand better than anyone how detrimental pollution is to our short term and long-term well-being. Farmers are self-motivated and very disciplined people. Farming is not a Monday through Friday, nine-to-five job. Crops and livestock do not know the difference in Saturday and Tuesday. Work on a farm is a seven-day-a-week commitment. Farming is not a job. It is a way of life.

Have you ever stopped to think where that egg on your plate or the burger in that wrapper came from? Well, it came from a farm where painstaking work took place to get it to you. A Georgia farmer made it possible for you to have that. I suppose sometimes it slips your mind just how much work went into that one meal. If it were not for those great people, everyone would go without food, which could lead to the downfall of society. Think about it, if an air traffic controller does not eat, his judgement will be impaired and countless numbers of people could be killed.

Georgia farmers also provide the clothes on your body. Clothes are what protect us from the deadly elements of nature. Clothes also give us a feeling of security from each other. If you are wearing a cotton shirt that means a Georgia farmer probably produced the material necessary to make that shirt. Growing and picking cotton has been made easier by technology, but it is still arduous and time-consuming work. This is one of the many ways farmers protect us.

A downfall of being a Georgia farmer is uncertainty. Uncertain if your crop will come in, or if your livestock will live or die. Hard work is a daily part of the Georgia farmer’s life, but this does not always insure success. The Georgia farmer has to have the cooperation of Mother Nature. The weather plays a big role in the life of farming; for example, many crops have been lost to drought and other severe weather problems. It never crosses our minds how many poor farmers have gone bankrupt, because if one does not provide what we need, thankfully there are many others who can.

In conclusion, to this unworthy tribute to the great Georgia farmer, I can proudly say that they are my heroes. They provide me with food, clothes, and so much more. I want to thank them for all the long hours they work in order to make all of our lives easier. I hope that someday people will recognize the Georgia farmers for the great people they are. God bless them all.