GROWMARK Announces 4-H Ontario Essay Contest Winner

Deanna Ringelberg-Winner of GROWMARK
Ontario Essay Contest

Congratulations goes to Deanna Ringelberg of Troy!

Deanna has been named the Ontario provincial winner of the first GROWMARK Essay Contest for Ontario high school students who are members of a 4-H Ontario Association. The theme of this year’s contest was “Co-operatives in a Global Environment, in honor of 2012, The International Year of Co-operatives named by the United Nations.

In her contest entry, Ringelberg said: “The success of co-ops is one of the best kept secrets. Through the International Year of Co-operatives, hopefully we can spread the word about the benefits to co-operative member-owners, communities and worldwide economic growth.”

Ringelberg is a student at Hamilton District Christian High School and a member of the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Association.

As the contest winner, Ringelberg will receive a $500 scholarship from GROWMARK at the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Association Awards banquet in December. The Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Association will also receive a $300 award in honour of her accomplishment to help future students.

Four provincial runners-up each received a $125 scholarship. The runners-up and their 4-H Associations, in alphabetical order are: Vicki Brisson, Russell County 4-H, Embrun, ON; Matthew Gerrits, Middlesex County 4-H, Sarnia, ON; Kate Johnson, Durham West 4-H, Port Perry, ON; Sabrina Van Schyndel, Lanark County 4-H, Carleton Place, ON.

This is the first year for the program in Ontario, but the nineteenth 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.

More information along with this year's Essay Contest winners are posted on GROWMARK and 4-H Ontario websites.