Wiegel wins grand prize in Southern Ag contest
Whitney James Wiegel, University of Missouri agriculture economics graduate student, was the Grand Prize winner in the Southern Ag student essay contest.
Students who participate write an essay of 750 to 1,000 words that addresses an assigned topic. Essays are judged on creativity, uniqueness of idea, organization and professional appeal. The contest is sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and Delta Farm Press. Students from universities that adjoin the lower Mississippi River are eligible to participate.
Wiegel, a native of Chillicothe, named his essay: “The Future of Southern Agriculture, Achievement Through Cooperation.” In the work he said that U.S. southern farmers face immense challenges in the 21st Century including the requirement to help feed 2.3 billion people by 2050. In order to meet the growing demands on agriculture, including the demand for bio-energy stocks, southern farmers need to work collectively and partner with people who will benefit from successful farming in the South.
“I am planning to graduate this December,” he said. “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career that emphasizes the dissemination of agricultural information. Ideally, I would like to have a job working with a University Extension program.”
