GROWMARK Announces 2016 Missouri Essay Contest Winner

Logan Korff of Norborne, Missouri, has been named the Missouri state winner of the 2016 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “What can young people do to ensure the sustainability of agriculture?”

In his contest entry, Korff said: “Agriculture is more than just an industry or a job. I consider agriculture to be the heartbeat of our nation; it is the number one industry for many of our states and allows our country to fend for ourselves and still have produce to be traded in the global economy… Agriculture is more important to our world than most people realize, and that is why advocating for sustainable agriculture is incredibly important.”

Korff is a student at Norborne R-VIII and a member of the Norborne FFA chapter. His FFA advisor is Kelly Lee.

As the contest winner, Korff will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK at the Missouri FFA State Convention, held in Columbia during April. The Norborne FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of his accomplishment to help future students.

Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 award. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order: Meredith Clevenger, Hamilton FFA, Hamilton, Missouri; Cole Diggins, Bronaugh FFA, Moundville, Missouri; Aly Francis, Paris FFA, Paris, Missouri; and Rebecca Sjostrand, Ashland FFA, Hartsburg, Missouri.

This is the first year for the program in Missouri. GROWMARK has sponsored an essay contest for 23 years in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The contest is supported by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $8.8 billion (FY 2015 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com