farming
Farming contest winners
Submitted by ggevalt on May 28, 2007 - 18:55.Each spring the Young Writers Project has a special contest asking students to write about farming. Here is the list of the 2007 judges, supporters and selections.
Final judges were two longtime farmers -- John Malcolm and Beth Kennett. Cabot Cheese provided support with cash and vintage cheese awards to the top winners.
The awards:
1. Farmer, a poem by Ruby Dombek, Grade 5, Ferrisburgh Central School. $100.
2. Friesen Daughters, a story by Emma Redden, Grade 9, Leyland and Gray High School. $75.
3. (tie) Stroll through a Monkton Farm, a poem by Myles Towsley, Grade 4, Monkton Central School; and
Hay Fever, an essay by Tanner Haskins, Grade 10, Rochester High School.
Honorable mentions: Our Farm by Emily Gieselman of Lyman Hunt School and At the Farm by Timmy Shea of Ferrisburgh Central School.
Geoffrey Gevalt
Young Writers Project, editor
Monkton Farming by Myles Towsley
Submitted by ggevalt on April 11, 2007 - 11:02.This piece tied for third in the 2007 Farming prompt contest, an annual event. Students and farmers judged the 175 submissions.
A stroll through a farm in Monkton
By Myles Towsley
Monkton Central School, Grade 4
If a cat were to walk
through a farm in Monkton
they would see
a silo the size of a skyscraper
Farming by Trevor Haskins
Submitted by haskinst on April 11, 2007 - 07:44.This piece tied for third in our annual Farming prompt contest. The judging was done by students, farmers and teachers.
Hay Fever
Tanner Haskins
Rochester High School, Grade 10
I have lived next to a farm all my life. It has long-since ceased to be a real productive farm aimed at producing crops and taking care of animals, but a few old traditions have held on. There was, until recently, three horses. Now two have been sold and only one lonely horse, Jake, remains. A couple of years ago, the neighbors (owners of the farm) decided that it was time to put me to work haying. I was hesitant at first, this because of having heard stories about the intensive labor that this requires and not being the most motivated of people. Quite to my surprise, I have come to love summer and all of the haying that it entails.
Farming
Submitted by greenlemon on March 23, 2008 - 17:48.The family
They wake up as farmers
And do the morning chores
While others
Are still asleep
Then they all go off
To lead their double lives
She
Goes to school
A student
Comes home
A farmer
As she feeds the sheep
Her mother
Goes to work
A nurse
Comes home
A farmer
While she delivers a lamb
Her father
Goes to work
A teacher
Comes home
A farmer
farmers morning
Submitted by mmugk1 on March 20, 2008 - 14:14.
Early riser,
catches the chicken
alarm sounds
rooster crows
stepping into
boots
that go to my
knees
open the front door
only to find
another night has gone bye
frost on the cucumbers
the pumpkins, too
slide the door
open the barn
a rush of
hay
pig
horse
hits my face
like a hot
summer wind
step by step
to each stall
drag the hose
to fill empty
buckets
chickens cluck
horses neigh
pigs snort
throw the grain to
what soon will be
dinner
the man of the coop
stands tall
chest out
feet scratching the ground
showing me to
get away
or
else
step by step
up to the
hay
I lug bails
down
one by one
to the horses
who smell the scent of hay
from a ways away
one trots with her
tail in the air
head held high
showing she's the boss
now must
milk the cow
milk leaks from her
teat
one at a time
squeeze to empty
place bucket aside
to have cereal later
click of the key
tractor roars
shovel manure
from the day
before
into the
tractor's spreader
bring to the fields
I'm going to put the
biggest pumpkin
into the fair
manure helps me
grow it
chores done
close door
knowing I'll
be back
soon
- mmugk1's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Holding On
Submitted by Usagi on March 14, 2008 - 21:26.A collection of
red-painted buildings
held together by
chores, denial, and
cows.
We're always just ahead
of the next
crisis, always
barely pulling
through,
always
thinking and
holding
on.
Because if I just concentrate on
keeping my grip
a little longer,
maybe I can
keep from
falling
at all.
- Usagi's blog
- Login or register to post comments
School?
Submitted by lauragoldblatt on March 7, 2008 - 18:13.My school is different from other schools. It's in a barn at Shelburne Farms. You say it's fun and I say it's fun. We have jobs. One of them is "Farm Chores." It is quite fun. We get to feed the animals that the other farmers do not have time to do.
farming
Submitted by jamie243 on March 5, 2008 - 12:23.I don’t live on a farm but I wouldn’t mind that. My grandparents live on a farm but there are not many animal there anymore, there are only two horses left in the barn. When I was younger I would ride a horse around a riding rink.
The Farm
Submitted by teenteltwin1 on March 5, 2008 - 12:17.HACK goes the sharp saw
Cuts through the hay
Mooo goes the cow and we all say YAY!
Farming
Submitted by fairfield55 on February 21, 2008 - 12:05.Farming
Farming is not an easy way of life. It can be a good life if you like to work hard and keep busy. Most farmers don’t go on many vacations. It takes a lot of work to get the milk to the Co-op.
5th grade farmer in Fairfield Vermont
Submitted by fairfield55 on February 19, 2008 - 11:21.The Fifth Grade Farmer of Fairfield Vermont
Michaela Lombard
5th grade 2007-2008
Mrs. Howrigan
Who knew?
Submitted by sneuman on January 25, 2008 - 13:05.Who knew that a wonderful tomatoe could come from a pile of cow manure? Who knew that trees provide such wonderful tasting, sweet, perfect maple syrup? Who knew that these people go through this much work, just for us to be happy? Who knew that farmers are so kind? Who knew?
The Old Way
Submitted by Usagi on December 28, 2007 - 21:09."I have a partnership with the land. I give her what she needs, and in return she gives me what I need."
Racing over the afternoon-lit green with the breathless wind.
"You can't take that relationship for granted. The land is a finicky mistress."
Summer leaves bow, bend delicately.
"But I like her just the same."
- Usagi's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- Read more
Farmer by Ruby Dombek
Submitted by amyd121 on May 25, 2007 - 11:59.This piece won top prize for the 2007 Farming prompt contest, an annual contest. The piece was chosen out of about 175 entries; judges were several farmers, students and teachers.
Farmer
By Ruby Dombek
Ferrisburgh Central School, Grade 5
The old farmer,
with overalls
and a no longer white T-shirt,
sits on the porch,
Farma' Hodges
Submitted by pianoman13 on April 21, 2007 - 01:19.Farming. This word means more to me than a job, it means a life. For 14 years i have worked/lived at Farmer Hodges Dairy in Fairlee, Vermont. There are some crazy people here and they have a way of teaching life in crazy ways. I learned that through laughing we can make our way through the challenges that face us.
