MDA ANNOUNCES FARM-TO-SCHOOL VIDEO CONTEST WINNERS

Students from Montgomery and Carroll Counties Take Top Prizes

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Oct. 12, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) today announced the winners of its first statewide Farm to School student video contest. Two entries tied to win for the Grand Prize: “Maryland Farm to School” by Raleigh and Owen Linville and Robert Penn, 11th graders from Liberty High School in Carroll County and “Farm Fresh with Fiona” by Fiona Voeks, 6th grader at Rocky Hill Middle School in Montgomery County.  The Popular Prize winner is “Local Food News” by Maureen Grauel, Kelsea and Shannon Floyd, 6th and 8th graders from Sykesville Middle School in Carroll County.

“We are pleased with the student response to our inaugural video contest. Students demonstrated their creativity and showed they are becoming engaged in knowing the origins of their food in a way that is both meaningful and fun,” said Agriculture Secretary Hance. “This contest aimed to educate students about where their food comes from and all of the benefits of buying local. It’s important to teach students that food does not come from a grocery store – it comes from a farmer.”

The Grand Prize winners will each receive an Apple iPod Touch, a Maryland State Park Pass, and a school lunchtime visit from MDA Secretary Buddy Hance and the Popular Prize winners will receive a Maryland State Park Pass.  Judges included representatives of the agricultural community, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Maryland State Department of Education, and the film industry.

Each winning video answered the question, “What does ‘local food’ mean to you?”  Fifteen videos were submitted for the inaugural contest. Students demonstrated their creativity with video content ranging from skits to interviewing farmers to the abstract.  Contestants were from Anne Arundel, Carroll, Cecil, Montgomery, St. Mary’s and Talbot counties and Baltimore City. The students ranged in age from 2nd graders to high school seniors.

This contest is part of the Jane Lawton Farm-to-School Program, which was established to bring more locally grown food to Maryland schools and to educate students about the importance of local agriculture.    Governor Martin O’Malley officially designated September 13-17, 2010, as Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week.

The demand for Maryland-grown food is growing. Buying locally is a key to ensuring a smart, green and growing future for Maryland families. It preserves farmland, protects the environment, bolsters local economies, and promotes healthy adults and children by providing wholesome, nutritious, great-tasting fresh food.

Click here to view all of the video submissions.  Click here for more information about Maryland Farm to School.

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