Secretary of State Linda McCulloch Celebrates National Ag Week by Presenting the 2009 Agriculture in Montana Schools Bumper Sticker Awards

March 18, 2009 (Jorgenson’s Restaurant)

Back row from left: Margie Thompson (Agriculture in Montana Schools President), Ramey Lunceford (Executive Director MT FFA Foundation), Linda McCulloch (Secretary of State), Lesli Furniss (Miss Rodeo MT 2009), and Ron de Yong (Director of the MT Dept. of Agriculture)

Front row from left: Ethan Beery, Jaden Graveley, Evan Dahinden, Abby Fraser, Wyatt Kittelmann, Tiana Fix, Kourtney Simonson.

(Not pictured) Sari Robertus

[Bumper stickers below are from last year's contest.]

(Helena) - Secretary of State Linda McCulloch will present awards to the winners of the annual Agriculture in Montana Schools Bumper Sticker Contest at noon on Wednesday, March 18 at Jorgenson's Restaurant. The winning bumper sticker designs will be used in Montana to promote the importance of agriculture in society.

"I can think of hundreds of ways to use a bumper sticker. It's great recognition for these young artists and for Montana's number one industry," said McCulloch.

The 2009 Agriculture in Montana Schools Bumper Sticker Contest Winners:

*OVERALL CONTEST WINNER: Sari Robertus from Fromberg Elementary (5th grade)

FIRST PLACE WINNERS: Kindergarten: Abby Fraser Chester-Joplin-Inverness Elementary First Grade: Wyatt Kittelmann Ekalaka Elementary Second Grade: Evan Dahinden Chester-Joplin- Inverness Elementary Third Grade: Ethan Beery Vida Elementary Fourth Grade: Jadin Gravely Cecelia Hazelton Elementary Fifth Grade: Tiana Fix Ekalaka Elementary Sixth Grade: Kourtney Simonson Whitewater School

SECOND PLACE WINNERS: Kindergarten: Erin Taylor Choteau Elementary First Grade: Brigid Miller Choteau Elementary Second Grade: Karson Powell Zurich Elementary Third Grade: Lilly Green Highwood Public School Fourth Grade: Catie Cavill Knowlton School Fifth Grade: Andrew Eberling Sheridan County Sixth Grade: Jacob Simpson Geraldine School

Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger and Miss Rodeo Montana 2009 Lesli Furniss will be among the special guests at the awards ceremony.

The winning bumper stickers will be on display in the Secretary of State's Office throughout 2009.

For more information about National Ag Week (March 15-21), contact the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-3144.