2016 National Ag Day coming March 15, 2016

Agriculture Council of America Announces 

2016 Poster and Essay Contests  

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host National Agriculture Day on March 15, 2016. This will mark the 43rd anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. 

In preparation for 2016 National Ag Day, the ACA is again hosting a poster art contest and the essay contest. The theme for both contests is Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet. 

The National Ag Day Poster Art contest is designed to showcase the talents of young artist who share a passion for modern agriculture.  A winning original piece of art will be chosen as the Official National Ag Day poster.  The contest is open to all amateur artists enrolled in high school or college. The deadline for the National Ag Day Poster Art Contest is October 30, 2015.

The winning entry will be published as the official National Ag Day Poster and the winning artist will receive $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Meredith Agrimedia. Artwork and profile of the artist will be prominently featured in Successful Farming magazine and Ag Day correspondence.

The ACA is once again seeking submissions for the 2016 Ag Day Essay Contest. The essay contest is divided into two categories of competition: written essay and video essay. Both are national competitions. 

The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in the 2015-2016 school year. Contestants must be a U.S. citizen and attending school in the U.S.  Contestants must meet all requirements to compete.

The National Video Essay Winner will receive $1,000. The National Written Essay Winner will receive $1,000 and trip to Washington, D.C., to be recognized at the Celebration of Ag Dinner held at the Whitten Patio March 15, 2016. The deadline for submitting entries in the essay contest is January 29, 2016.

National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society. 

The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

·         Understand how food and fiber products are produced.

• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

·         Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.

Visit www.agday.org for more information on contest rules and entry forms and for information on National Ag Day in 2016.