Creating Cover Designs

The pandemic prevented many programs, but it didn’t stop DeKalb County Farm Bureau from offering a design contest for elementary students.

This year marked the 31st year of a contest that has challenged children to illustrate their farm knowledge.

Over the years, the contest has involved the design of posters, t-shirts, placemats, and as of 2020, the cover of this magazine.

What hasn’t changed in that time is that children are still employing their artistic talents to convey what they have learned about agriculture. In doing so, they are much more likely to remember what they have learned.

The contest is designed to encourage elementary teachers to incorporate lessons about agriculture. While the theme for each grade correlates with the Ag in the Classroom program provided by Farm Bureau, many teachers amplify student learning with ag-focused books, videos, and class discussions.

Once they’ve gained an understanding of the topic, students reinforce what they’ve learned by creating their magazine cover designs.

This year’s design themes reflected our adapted Ag in the Classroom program. Students in 1st-2nd grade created designs illustrating “Why Farms Matter,” while 3rd-5th graders focused on “The Science of Agriculture.”

Twenty-five teachers from ten schools submitted 305 student designs for the contest. Entries were judged by the Ag Literacy Committee. Members of the committee reviewed the designs by grade level, selecting first, second, and third place winners and up to five honorable mention recipients per grade.

Of the five first place winners, Farm Bureau staff then selected the design most suitable for the CONNECTIONS magazine cover to be the grand prize winner.

This year’s cover design contest grand prize winner is Jaxen Foster. His design is shown on the front cover (and on opposite page). Jaxen’s design, themed “Why Farms Matter,” was the first place winner for second grade. Jaxen is a student at Indian Creek Elementary in Shabbona. His teacher is Mrs. Denise Myers.

First place winners in each of the other grades included: First Grade – Avery Gletty of Indian Creek Elementary; Third Grade – Max Beever of Indian Creek Elementary; Fourth Grade – Annie Butler of Dummer School; and Fifth Grade – Ava Frances of Indian Creek Middle School. (See opposite page for a complete list of winners.) The first place designs are shown on these pages and on the back cover.

First through third place winners received gift cards. Honorable mention recipients earned special certificates, and all entrants received participation ribbons.

Copies of CONNECTIONS magazine will be provided to all the first place winners.

Cover Design Winners

1st Grade

1st Place – Avery Gletty
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Jackie Pelletier

2nd Place – Scarlett Tompkins
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Jackie Pelletier

3rd Place – Blair Byington
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Jackie Pelletier

2nd Grade

1st Place – Jaxen Foster
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Denise Myers

2nd Place – Kayden Mikalauska
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Susan Foster

3rd Place – Paisley Finney
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Lindsay Boehne

3rd Grade

1st Place – Max Beever
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Julie Headley

2nd Place – Connor Davis
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Julie Headley

3rd Place – Chloe Clementi
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Julie Headley

4th Grade

1st Place – Annie Butler
Dummer School
Teacher, Mrs. Monica Winckler

2nd Place – Aubrianna Lewandowski
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Joann Pardridge

3rd Place – Ashley Leifheit
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Joann Pardridge

5th Grade

1st Place – Ava Frances
Indian Creek Middle School
Teacher, Mrs. Martha Johnson

2nd Place – Evangeline Pasetti
Indian Creek Middle School
Teacher, Mrs. Martha Johnson

3rd Place – Brianna León
Indian Creek Middle School
Teacher, Mrs. Martha Johnson

Honorable Mention

1st Grade
Marjorie McAllister
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Melissa McNanna

Maci Miller
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Megan Smith

Landin Headon
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Jackie Pelletier

2nd Grade
Milly Busse
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Lindsay Boehne

Brantley Green
Prairie View Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Kim Gudmunson

Amelia Lowery
North School
Teacher, Ms. Jaymee Schrader

Harper Ludwig
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Denise Myers

3rd Grade
Grace Kupp
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Julie Headley

Ireland Hovey
Hiawatha Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Geriann Failla

Ben White
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Julie Headley

Finn Davis
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Julie Headley

4th Grade
Teagan Kramer
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Joann Pardridge

Jack Jungels
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Ms. Joann Pardridge

Ella Schrader
Indian Creek Elementary
Teacher, Mrs. Tara Faivre

5th Grade
James Bend
Indian Creek Middle School
Teacher, Ms. Brittany Pierce