YOUTH ACTIVITIES

The AG Fair ESSAY Contest

This contest is open to all children or students from the fourth through the twelfth grades. Entries will be judged in three categories: elementary (grades 4-6), middle school (grades 7-9), and high school (grades 10-12).

All essay submissions should depict the fair theme:

AGRIFEST 2012: "Youth in Agriculture - Growing Our Future"

Contest rules:

• All entries must be submitted digitally.
• Format: 12-point font, double-spaced, 1” margin; header with essay title, author's last name and first initial, and Page 1 of ___ pagination.
• Word-count guidelines:
  • Elementary        300 – 500 words
  • Middle School     500 – 750 words
  • High School       750 – 1000 words
• Middle school essays must include a Work Cited page with at least two sources.
• High school essays must include a Work Cited page with at least three sources.
• The following information must be included as a cover sheet:
  
  • Title of essay
  • Student’s name
  • School or group affiliation
  • Grade
  • Teacher/adult sponsor

Essays will be judged on:

• expression of the fair theme,
• originality,
• evidence of research and educational thought; appropriately cited sources
• artistic merit and creativity, and
• neatness, grammatical correctness and adherence to contest rules.

First, second and third place finishers will be awarded prizes. Top five (5) essays in each division will be recognized and invited to present their work orally at the Spoken Word Showcase. Winning essays will be prominently displayed at the fair. One winning author will be selected to deliver his/her work as part of the Opening Ceremony.

Submit all entries electronically as a MicroSoft Word document only to: sdahl at uvi.edu

In subject line, please enter: 2012 Ag Fair Essay - Last Name, First Initial