Cameron Burns
BURNS NAMED STATE WINNER IN AG DAY COMPETITION
COLUMBIA, SC…Cameron Burns, a junior at Pendleton High School and FFA chapter secretary, has been named state winner of the Ag Day Essay contest, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.
The announcement was made by DuPont Crop Protection and the Agriculture Council of America on Monday, March 13. The theme of the essay contest this year was “Growing Our Energy: Alternative Fuels from Agriculture”.
In her essay, Cameron wrote, “the changing face of the farming industry in the United States will be positively affected by the increasing production of biodiesel and ethanol, or other alternative fuels. Our country will become less dependent on foreign refineries and less impacted by increasing oil prices as we produce our own fuel sources and support our agricultural economy”.
Mike Ricciuto, global communications director for DuPont Crop Protection, said the topic this year was challenging, yet extremely pertinent to the future of our youth and the success of agriculture. “It is great to see today’s youth have such strong support for the American agricultural industry”, he said. “The entries demonstrated extensive research and understanding of agricultural topics and issues, showing the interest and awareness that South Carolina students have”, he added.
The essay contest is sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection, Case IH, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, High Plains Journal, National Association of Farm Broadcasters and the National Agri-Marketing Association.
National Ag Day, coordinated by the Agriculture Council of America, will be celebrated March 20 during National Agriculture Week, March 19-25. Ag Day is designed to focus on the importance of American agriculture---the backbone of the nation’s economy---with more than 22 million people working in the agriculture industry.
Cameron is the daughter of Gary and Sarah Burns of Pendleton, SC.