FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GROWMARK Announces 2017 Missouri Essay Contest Winner

Marrah Delmont

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AgPR) Dec. 1, 2016 - Marrah Delmont of Halfway, Missouri, has been named the Missouri state winner of the 2017 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?”

In her contest entry, Delmont said: “The benefits cooperatives provide go far beyond economics. As successful cooperatives grow, successful leaders, directors, managers, and other employees grow too. By putting members at the heart of the cooperative, farmers are taught the values of selflessness, teamwork, diligent labor, leadership, and a passion for agriculture that continues to grow with time. Cooperatives have been around for hundreds of years, and will continue to grow and benefit others. Cooperatives build a better world.”

Delmont is a student at Halfway High School and a member of the Halfway FFA chapter. Her FFA advisor is Jeff Voris.

As the contest winner, Delmont will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK at the Missouri FFA State Convention in Columbia, held in April. The Halfway FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of her accomplishment to help future students.

Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 award. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order: Daniel Dothage, Wellsville-Middletown FFA, Middletown, Missouri; Taylor Dye, Paris FFA, Paris, Missouri; Regan Meyer, Jefferson FFA, Stanberry, Missouri; and Logan Westmoreland, Columbia FFA, Rocheport, Missouri.

This is the 24th year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

About GROWMARK:
GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $8.7 billion (FY 2015 data) providing agronomy, energy, facility planning, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by affiliated member cooperatives. More information is available at www.growmark.com.

###

Contact:
Karen Jones
Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist
GROWMARK, Inc.
309-557-6184 
kjones@growmark.com