Risk Management Agency Program Announcement

USDA HONORS NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

Contact: Eric Edgington (202) 690-2539
Eric.Edgington@rma.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Apr 27, 2000 - Thomas Grau, Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Ken Ackerman, Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator, today recognized the ten national winners of the third annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) Risk Management Strategies Writing Contest. The contest is sponsored by RMA, in cooperation with FFA and the National Council for Agricultural Education, as a means of making the nation's future farmers aware of ways to manage various risks associated with farming.

The ten winners were chosen from more than 230 entrants. Winners were selected for writing outstanding essays on how they managed agricultural risk in their Supervised Agricultural Experience Program. The contestants used a number of risk management tools and strategies, ranging from enterprise diversification to crop insurance.

The winners also heard from USDA speakers Ken Harrison and Joe Glauber.

"These ten winners and their fellow contest participants have gained not only valuable experience in the practical management of a farm enterprise, but have learned that making good business decisions and managing risks wisely is a major part of being a farmer in today's global economy," said Grau. "Judging from the quality of these essays, these young entrepreneurs have also learned another key skill, the art of communication. With such a talented group of new farmers, the outlook for American agriculture looks bright."

Honored for their outstanding essays were:

• Pam Coffey, Southwestern Kentucky
• Lars Enerson, Stanley, North Dakota
• Ryan Fegley, Berthold, North Dakota
• Kevin Hilton, Bowman, North Dakota
• Aleece Lahr, Denton, Montana
• Michelle Pavelka, Blue Hill, Nebraska
• Cheryl Ramsey, Talawanda, Ohio
• Shawn Sponheim, St. Ansgar, Iowa
• Ted Ufkes, Southeastern Illinois
• Kate Wrage, Hartsburg-Emden, Illinois

After receiving their awards, the students and their FFA sponsors toured the Capitol and visited Members of Congress. They also met with staff from the House Agriculture Committee to discuss the growing importance of risk management for American agriculture.