2022 National Ag Day ESSAY Contest

State Sen. Judy Schwank, Commissioner Christian Leinbach, Reading Eagle and the Berks Agricultural Resource Network invite Berks County students to share their thoughts about farming in an essay and video contest celebrating National Ag Day. The day reminds people where their food comes from and the contribution agriculture makes to their everyday lives.
Essays will be grouped into three categories based on the students’ grade. A winning essay from each grade level up to eighth grade and one high school student will receive a cash award from BARN and be published in the March 20th edition of Berks Country. Winning videos will air on BCTV and readingeagle.com.

Essays must be submitted online between February 1 and February 28.

Contact [email protected] with questions.

2022 National Ag Day ​VIDEO Contest

National Ag Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

This year Berks Agricultural Resource Network (B.A.R.N) with the help of some of our partners is hosting an Ag Video Contest.   A big thank you to the contest sponsors, Friends for Judy Schwank and Commissioner Christian Leinbach.

To celebrate Ag Day in Berks County we are inviting students (in grades 3 -12) to share their thoughts about farming in the form of a short video submission. The videos are meant to help teach the students and their audience where their food comes from and the important role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.

Videos will be grouped into three categories based on the students’ grade. A first place winner from each grade group will be awarded a $50 prize from BARN, to be announced at the National Ag Day Celebration on Tuesday, March 23rd, and be published in the March 24th Berks Country section of the Reading Eagle and at readingeagle.com.

Please help spread the word about the contest.  Share with all the students and teachers in your life! 
Deadline for Entry Form submissions and Video uploads is 7 pm on Wednesday, March 17th.

Contact [email protected] with questions.

Video Contest: Grades 3-5

Video Contest: Grades 6-8

Video Contest: Grades 9-12

Here's an example of what we're looking for in a video submission...

+++ad a winner or two from 2021??

Elementary
​Third to Fifth grade:

What is your favorite vegetable?  Show us and tell us about it!
Vegetables in Berks County have seasons; even in winter, some foods are still being grown and harvested, such as turnips, cabbage, potatoes and brussels sprouts. Winter veggies are grown in tunnels, which are plastic-enclosed spaces where the temperature stays warm even when it's snowing outside. Demonstrate how you like to eat your favorite vegetable. Can you eat it year-round?  

Middle School
​Sixth to eighth grade:

What do you love about Ag?
Berks County has more than 1,800 farms, according to the Census of Agriculture. The average size farm is 124 acres and the main products are livestock (animals), poultry and crops. Have you ever noticed how many dairy farms there are in Berks County? Is there a certain breed of cow that's preferred for her milk? Investigate a little known fact about ag in Berks County, and share it!  

High School​
Ninth to twelfth grade:  

Has your family changed the way they shop for food during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Reading Eagle reports: "As physical distancing and store shortages affect our lives and the COVID-19 pandemic continues into a second year, farmers are experiencing a surge of direct sales (this means buying directly from a farmer; no middle man).
The situation presents challenges for farmers and for the consumers who want to buy their products."
If your family was frustrated by shortages of beef, milk or eggs, did you try to buy those foods from farmers' markets or on-site farm stores (such as Way-Har Market in Bernville, which has more than just ice cream). In your video, show how you or your family has obtained food differently in the year of COVID-19.
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