Georgia Department of Agriculture Press Release:

Five south Georgia area students were selected to receive awards for their winning entries in the 2010 Ag Day essay and art contests sponsored by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Agriculture in the Classroom Council. The 25 winning entries were selected from among more than 2,000 submitted.

Katie Abigail Adams,* a fourth grade student at Nicholls Elementary in Coffee County, received the second place award for essay in the 4 – 8 category in the ceremonies held in the Georgia Department of Agriculture March 18.

An Appling County High School student’s essay was selected for the second place award for essay in the 9 – 12 grade category. Trent Ware, a ninth grader of Baxley, was unable to attend the ceremony. Austin Tanner, a senior at Ware County Magnet School, who placed third for essay in the 9 – 12 category, also was unable to attend the ceremony.

Two Lanier County High School seniors, who were unable to attend the ceremony in Atlanta, were selected for honorable mention awards. Shane Sirmans placed in art and Jonathon Earp for essay.

The first, second and third place winners received $200, $100, $50 respectively. All winners received commemorative certificates for their essays and art on the theme of “Agriculture: Touching Every Georgia County.”

Prior to the awards presentations in the Georgia Department of Agriculture, those who participated in the ceremonies attended the Ag Day proclamation signing with Governor Sonny Perdue in the Capitol. After lunch, the students, their families and teachers returned for ice cream and cake in the agriculture building and were scheduled for a Capitol tour.