About the American Forage and Grassland Council essay contest

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

By MARK EVANS, County Extension Director

Mark Evans

The American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) National Youth in Forage Management Essay Contest rules and information for 2022 is now available, and the AFGC is now soliciting entries.

This contest is funded by the generous support of Progressive Forage. Prize money is awarded to the top two essays in each category, as well as a one-year complimentary AFGC student membership. There are two categories for participants. They are based on grades as of Jan. 1. Category 1 is sixth-to-ninth grade with a 200-to-400-word essay, while Category 2 is 10th to 12th grade with a 350-to-500-word essay.

Essays are judged with the following criteria: Basic essay requirements met, originality, writing quality (grammar, punctuation, style), passion for topic, evidence of forage management knowledge and interesting to read.

Requirements are that essays must be original compositions of the entrants and essays must be typed using Times New Roman 12-point font. Essays should be single-spaced. All submissions should include the author’s name, address, city, state and zip, while an email address and phone number are optional. All submissions should include the age category at the top of the essay and total word count. All submissions must be signed and dated by the author. If submitted electronically, please send as a Word document attachment.

Subject matter may be anything pertaining to forage management, including but not limited to, personal experiences in grazing or forage management, observation or explanation of forage practices, livestock management on pasture or stored forages, fencing or other equipment related to grazing and forage management, plant or animal species’ response to grazing management or any other subject matter related to grazing or forage management.

A judging panel will judge the essays and all decisions are final. The deadline for the 2022 Youth in Forage Management Essay Contest is Nov. 30. Entries should be submitted electronically via email to membership@afgc.org as a Word document or mail to AFGC, P.O. Box 867, Berea, KY 40403. For additional information call 800-944-2342.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Extension office at 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Evening and lunch appointments are available upon request.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 12, 19, 26 – Fall walking group, 9 a.m., Big Walnut Sports Park, register at 765-301-7641

Oct. 19 – Medicare and Diabetes, Putnam County Fairgrounds, 2 p.m., register at 653-8411

Oct. 19 – Pork: The No-Hogwash Protein webinar, noon, register at https://tinyurl.com/WIAWebinars21

Oct. 25 – ServSafe one-day class and online exam, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., register at https://purdue.edu/servsafe/workshops

Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17 – Grass-to-garden program, virtual, 6–9 p.m., $50, register at 653-8411