FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner James Comer honored the winners of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s annual Poster and Essay Contest at the annual Kentucky Agriculture Day luncheon March 27 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort.

“The winning entries really captured this year’s theme – ‘Agriculture Grows My Community,’” Commissioner Comer said. “Agriculture is responsible for thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of income in Kentucky communities of every size. Agriculture also is an important part of Kentucky’s heritage. I congratulate these young people for their efforts, and I thank their parents and teachers for their support.”

Statewide winners in each grade were awarded $100 each.

Essay contest winners and schools in each grade, with their teachers’ names in parentheses, were:

First grade – Isis Carballo, Custer Elementary School, Breckinridge County (Cheryl Van de Streek)

Second grade – Vincent Mayfield, Deer Park Elementary, Daviess County (Lisa Clark)

Third grade – Andy Peeples, Deer Park Elementary, Daviess County (Cynthia Owens)

Fourth grade – Michael Brockman, Brockman Christian Academy, Boone County (Karen Meiman)

Fifth grade – Anya Johnson, Strong Oaks Academy, Boone County (Sara Rogers)

Sixth grade – Jennifer Solinger, Solinger Homeschool, Jefferson County (Lisa Solinger)

Seventh grade – Cameron Taylor, Still Waters Academy, Boone County (Sara Rogers)

Eighth grade – Tucker Woolum, Pineville Middle School, Bell County (Elizabeth Madon)

Ninth grade – Danny Ray Taylor, Still Waters Academy, Boone County (Sara Rogers)

10^th grade – Aaron Elswick, LaRue County High School, LaRue County (Misty Bivens)

11^th grade – April Webb, LaRue County High School, LaRue County (Misty Bivens)

12^th grade – Laura Jane Phelps, Woodford County High School, Woodford County (Tracy Probst)

Poster contest winners and schools in each grade, with their teachers’ names in parentheses, were:

Kindergarten – Cadence Johnson, Seton Catholic School, Fayette County (Kitti Boaz)

First grade – Benjamin Wheat, Squires Elementary School, Fayette County (Shirla Ramey)

Second grade – Elizabeth Johnson, Johnson Homeschool, Warren County (Julie Kratts)

Third grade – Zoe Barker, Deer Park Elementary, Daviess County (Cynthia Owens)

Fourth grade – Jacob DeFevers, Austin Tracy Elementary School, Barren County (Sarah Vetter)

Fifth grade – Rebekah Masih, Masih Homeschool, Boone County (Mini Masih)

Sixth grade – Anna Avery, Memorial School, Hart County (Sarah Vetter)

Seventh grade – Maria Campos, Warren East Middle School, Warren County (Susan Comer)

Eighth grade – Heather Bensinger, King Middle School, Mercer County (Tiffany Penn)

Ninth grade – Anna Lee, Metcalfe County High School (Chris Long)

10^th grade – Emily Jeter, Metcalfe County High School (Chris Long)

11^th grade – Allison Davis, Mercer County High School, Mercer County (Julia Snellan)

12^th grade – Taylor DeWeese, Metcalfe County High School (Chris Long)

The statewide winner of the Bonnie Plants Third Grade Cabbage Contest also was honored at the luncheon. Holden Underwood of Nelson County received a check for $1,000 from Michael Morgan, a Kentucky sales representative for Bonnie Plants. Holden grew a cabbage that weighed 20.5 pounds.

To find out more about the Poster and Essay Contest, go to www.kyagr.com/marketing/poster-essay-contest.html.