Thirteen budding student artists were recently chosen as winners in the annual Farm to School Calendar Contest, sponsored by the North Carolina Grange. Each month depicts the art of a student and represents a different commodity. The calendar also includes daily facts about agriculture, giving students an understanding of agriculture's role in food production.
“It’s clear from this artwork that these students have a good understanding of farms and what agriculture looks like here in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “It was a very competitive year with over 3,500 entries from 58 counties. There is no denying the talent in this room. These students have a lot to be proud of.”
Prizes for student winners from kindergarten through fifth grade include gift cards from the N.C. Farm to School Cooperative and the School Nutrition Association of North Carolina. They were awarded at the Got to Be N.C. Festival in Raleigh on May 16.
Winning entrants are:
• Namya Singhal, a fifth grader from Morrisville Elementary in Wake County; Teacher: Jennifer Bracke, Cover
• Olivia Medlin, a fifth grader from Union Elementary in Union County; Teacher: Michelle Johnson, January 2027
• Owen Seitzer, a kindergartener from Banks Elementary School in Lenoir County; Teacher: Gabriella Ham, February 2027
• Evelyn Hernandez, a fourth grader from Rodgers Elementary in Martin County; Teacher: Taylor Camp, March 2027
• Kevin Lucas Perez, a first grader from Peterson Elementary in Robeson County; Teacher: Tapanga Bullard, April 2027
• Montserrat Vega Lopez, a fifth grader from Lillington Shawtown Elementary in Harnett County; Teacher: Coleen Bartley, May 2027
• Ryan Openchowski, a fifth grader from Davis Drive Elementary in Wake County; Teacher: Benjamin Byron, June 2027
• Sadie Lews, a second grader from Cool Spring Elementary in Iredell County; Teacher: Jessica Kessler, July 2027
• Saylor Fulcher, a third grader from Tiller Charter School in Carteret County; Teacher: Sarah Harker Leary, August 2026
• Asher Hill, a fifth grader from Hopewell Elementary in Randolph County; Teacher: Cori Cagle, September 2026
• Esther De La Cruz Aureoles, a fourth grader from Shiloh Elementary in Union County; Teacher: Jill Ammons, October 2026
• Parker Stewart, a fifth grader from Kitty Hawk Elementary in Dare County; Teacher: Brandy Stewart, November 2026
• Isla Bost, a second grader from New Dimensions School in Burke County, Teacher: Jennifer Hudson, December 2026
For 29 years, the N.C. Farm to School Program has helped place products from North Carolina farms into the state’s school cafeterias. This year, the program provided North Carolina with over $1.8 million worth of food products to schools across the state. This program is a collaboration of the Food Distribution and Marketing divisions in the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Agriculture and agribusiness are North Carolina’s leading industry with an economic impact of $100 billion, employing a sixth of the state’s workforce. The Farm to School Program provides farmers with market opportunities and encourages students to take an interest in the state agriculture industry.
“Agriculture in North Carolina is so diverse. We still get new community entries for the first time each year. We had a hydroponic system, cut flowers, and alpacas represented this year,” Troxler said.
The North Carolina Grange sponsors the competition and ensures that schools and students receive calendars free of charge. If needed, more copies can be obtained through NCDA&CS while supplies last and a printable calendar is available online at www.ncfarmtoschool.com.
The North Carolina Grange is a nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to strengthening agriculture and rural communities across the state.
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