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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GROWMARK Announces 2017 Iowa Essay Contest Winner
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AgPR) Nov. 30, 2016 – Jaxon Mullinnix of Lone Tree, Iowa, has been named the Iowa 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 his contest entry, Mullinnix said: “Some may even describe cooperatives as the ‘backbone’ to the agricultural industry. When farmers own and control, on a business level, channels for acquiring supplies and marketing their supplies they are able to stay competitive in the marketplace. Providing farmers with a dependable source of reasonably priced supplies, reliable services, and a heightened income, cooperatives undoubtedly add value to a farm operation.”
Mullinnix is a student at Lone Tree High School and a member of the Lone Tree FFA chapter. His FFA advisor is Bridget Mahoney.
As the contest winner, Mullinnix will receive a $500 award from GROWMARK at the Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference in Ames, held in April. The Lone Tree FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of his 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: Emily Campbell, Audubon FFA, Hamlin, Iowa; John Cook, East Buchanan FFA, Independence, Iowa; Kaitlyn Lane, Maquoketa FFA, Maquoketa, Iowa; and Lauren Mosher, Grundy Center FFA, Conrad, Iowa.
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.
### High resolution photo available upon request
Contact:
Karen Jones
Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist
GROWMARK, Inc.
309-557-6184
kjones@growmark.com |
