GROWMARK has announced the Illinois state winner of their essay contest for FFA members. The theme this year was “The Importance of Agriculture in Everyday Life” and the winner is Keirra DeCamp of Pleasant Hill.
In her contest entry, DeCamp said: “So, the real question here is: ‘Where would you be without agriculture?’ Without agriculture, you would be inconvenienced, naked, malnourished, unprotected, and, most importantly, hungry.”
DeCamp is a student at Pleasant Hill High School and a member of the Pleasant Hill FFA chapter. Her FFA advisor is Beth Arnold.
As the contest winner, DeCamp will receive a $500 scholarship from GROWMARK at the Illinois FFA State Convention, held in Springfield during June. The Pleasant Hill FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of her accomplishment to help future students.
Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 scholarship. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order: Jacob Day, Lincoln FFA, Lawndale, Ill., Jonathan Drover, Technology Center of DuPage FFA, Westmont, Ill., Lucas Frye, Illini Central FFA, Easton, Ill., and Sarah Higgins, Mercer County FFA, Joy, Ill.
This is the eighteenth year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.