Jan 26, 2021
Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have launched the second annual Florida Agriculture History and Creativity Award essay contest. The competition encourages Florida elementary, middle, and high school students to explore food insecurity affecting up to 1 in 5 Floridians, through discussing school gardens, nutrition programs, food inequities in communities of color, and leaders helping fight chronic hunger.
“Throughout the challenges of the past year that continue today, agriculture remains the backbone of Florida’s economy and how we feed our families – but not all of Florida’s families have enough to eat, with nearly one in five Floridians struggling with food insecurity,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried. “That’s why we’re focused on food in our second annual essay contest, encouraging Florida’s youth to explore the problems, inequities, and solutions surrounding chronic hunger, and rewarding creativity with Fresh From Florida scholarships for the winning students.”
From January 25 through February 26, the Florida Agriculture History and Creativity Award essay contest will be open to all 4th through 12th graders enrolled in a Florida public or private school. Students can write a 500-word essay about food insecurity topics that vary by grade level. Winners will earn $1,000 cash scholarships, courtesy of Fresh From Florida. Cooperating partners include No Kid Hungry, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and the Florida PTA.
Students can learn more, find topics and official contest rules, and enter by visiting FDACS.gov/AgHistoryAward.
