Special Competitions - Best Agricultural Story ( Circulation up to 1499,Circulation 1500 to 3999,Circulation 4000 to 6499,Circulation 6500 to 9999,Circulation 10000 to 12499,Circulation 12500 to 17499,Circulation 17500 and over,Digital - Population under 10K,Digital - Population 10-99K,Digital - Population 100K plus)
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Place Name:
First Place
Contestant Name:
The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton,ON
Entry Title:
Meet Enbridges 250 fuzzy new employees
Entry Credit:
Heather Wright
Judge Comment:
First place in this competition went to Heather Wright of The Independent for her story on Brent and Meika Pelleboer and their initiative to graze sheep at a solar project. This story was well written and researched, with several sources tapped to provide information, resulting in an engaging read about an innovative approach to agriculture combined with the growing industry of green energy. The story was well supported by strong photos and layout.
Place Name:
Second Place
Contestant Name:
The Lake Report (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON)
Entry Title:
Anything you can do ...
Entry Credit:
Richard Hutton
Judge Comment:
Second place went to the story headlined “Anything you can do” by Richard Hutton of The Lake Report. This is a well written story that uses multiple sources to tell of the growing number of women who are running agricultural operations in Canada. The choice of topic shows originality, and numerous sources provide insight, and strong photographs and layout complete the package.
Place Name:
Third Place
Contestant Name:
Observer (Elmira-Woolwich, ON)
Entry Title:
Stamp remembers forgotten heroes
Entry Credit:
Julian Gavaghan, Cassandra Merlihan
Judge Comment:
In third place is “Stamp Remembers Forgotten Heroes” by Julian Gavaghan of The Observer. The story’s hook is a new stamp that was issued to remember the “Farmerettes,” young women who laboured in fields to raise crops to feed needy nations during the Second World War. This is an interesting, well-written story that details with emotion an important but little-known contribution that young Canadian women made to the war effort.
Competition Comment:
This was an outstanding competition to judge. The community newspapers that entered cultivated a bumper crop of interesting, well-written and researched stories about amazing initiatives and people in agriculture across the country. It was a pleasure and privilege to read the entries in this competition, which prove without a doubt that community newspapers are in touch with agriculture and are providing their readers with an interesting look at the people, products and issues involved in the industry.
