FROM STAFF REPORTS

BIRMINGHAM— Student artists, writers and video editors from surrounding counties were celebrated April 7 at the Farm-City Awards Luncheon. The Alabama Farm-City Committee awarded top entries for its poster, essay and multimedia contests.

Among top winners from Cullman, Dale, Clarke and Marshall counties, Shelby County resident Laurin Bell earned second place in the essay portion for grades 10-12.

Bell, who is a senior at Hope Christian School in Pelham, was awarded $200 at the luncheon, and Hope Christian School also received $200 for her efforts.

“The winning entries represent hundreds, if not thousands, of students across the state who learned more about the importance of agriculture and forestry while creating posters, researching essays and editing video presentations,” said Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms.

All the winners qualified for state-level awards by winning their county contests last fall. Each entry follows the 2015 theme “Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations.”

Farm-City Week was first observed in 1955 and is celebrated the week before Thanksgiving. Volunteers work year-round to foster understanding among farmers and their city neighbors.

During the Alabama Farm-City Awards, county adult volunteers also were recognized for outstanding Farm-City activities, and Alabama’s 2016 Farm of Distinction was named.

For more information, visit Alabamafarmcity.org. Photos from the awards luncheon are available at Flickr.com/AlabamaFarmers.