School entries are being accepted for the fourth annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest sponsored by the Arkansas Agriculture Department and Farm Credit. The deadline is Saturday, Sept. 9.
Applicants may be any Arkansas school, grades pre-K through 12, that had a school garden open during the 2016-2017 school year or any schools planning to start a garden in the 2017-2018 school year.
Entries will be judged by a committee amid categories below. All school applicants (except those applying for the school garden start-up category) are required to provide photos or video documentation of garden activities and progress.
Farm Credit is providing funding for winners in the following award categories:
• Best School Garden Start-Up Proposal – $500
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Best Nutrition Education Based Garden – $500
• Best Community Collaboration Garden – $500
• Best Environmental Education Focused Garden – $500
• Overall Winning Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year – $1,000
“School gardens are important hands-on educational tools that incorporate math and science skills while teaching students about food production, good nutrition, and the importance of agriculture, our state’s largest industry,” Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward, said in a news release. “I’m pleased we could add a new award category this year to provide schools interested in starting a school garden to compete for the cash awards generously provided by Farm Credit.”
The Arkansas Grown program promotes food and products grown in Arkansas by Arkansas producers, and helps make the connection between growers and buyers. Arkansas Grown is a program of the Arkansas Agriculture Department. Producers, farmer’s markets, and other local fresh food resources are available at www.arkansasgrown.org.
“As a farmer-owned cooperative, we are excited to continue our support of teachers and projects that engage Arkansas students in food production and agricultural sustainability,” Glen Manchester, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas president and chief executive officer, said on behalf of the Farm Credit cooperatives of Arkansas. “Through these partnerships, we can ensure that the valuable role of Arkansas agriculture remains top-of-mind for the next generation.”
Entry forms are available at http://www.aad.arkansas.gov/arkansas-school-garden-of-the-year-contest. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 9.