GUELPH, Ontario, July 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maggie-Joe Hickson of Oakwood has been named the Ontario provincial winner of the 2018 GROWMARK essay contest for 4-H members attending high school. The theme of this year’s contest was “How can co-operatives demonstrate their value to the next generation of agriculturists”
In her contest entry, Hickson said: “Many agriculturalists develop their passion and skills through organizations such as 4-H and Junior Farmers Association of Ontario. By supporting these organizations, co-operatives have the ability to work directly with their future members and instill their values and knowledge into them.”
Maggie-Jo is a student at Lindsay Colligate and Vocational Institute and a member of the Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton 4-H Association.
As the contest winner, Hickson receives a $500 award from GROWMARK and her 4-H Association also receives a $300 award in honour of her accomplishment to help future students.
Two provincial runners-up each receive a $125 award. The runners-up this year are: Morgan MacIntyre, member of Carleton 4-H Association and student at Osgood Township High School in Russell; and Jordan Wills , member of Chatham Kent 4-H Association and student at Lambton Kent Composite School in Dresden.
This is the seventh year for the Essay Program in Ontario in partnership with 4-H Ontario, but the 25th year for the program in the United States, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member co-operatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. The essay contest was designed to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of co-operatives.
GROWMARK is a regional agriculture co-operative that provides agronomy, energy, and grain marketing and risk management services in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta and 42 states in the United States. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member co-operatives. To read the full essay by Maggie-Joe Hickson, please visit: www.growmark.com
A photo of Maggie-Jo Hickson is available upon request.
Contact: Janice Johnson, GROWMARK, Inc.
Phone: 519-821-5740
E-mail: jajohnson@growmark.com