Each year the Farm Bureau holds a nationwide art contest in conjunction with Ag Week, which was last week. It invites all students from 9th through 12 grades to participate.

This week, three BHS student winners were recognized and presented with checks by Justin Long, president of Decatur County Farm Bureau.

Elizabeth Kirkland, a senior, placed first, and received $100. Second place was won by Emily Chambers, who received $75, and sophomore Rosie Rentz was awarded $50 for her 3rd place submission.

Each drawing was to have an agriculture theme. Elizabeth drew the face of a cow. On its head it wore a crown decorated with peaches and cotton, both crops highly representative of Decatur County and the state of Georgia.

Second place drawing by Emily was an agricultural take on the classic American Gothic. Rosie’s drawing was of a small boy on a farm, carefully planting seeds.

All three girls are students of BHS Arts teacher Rebecca Cole and have participated in the school arts exhibits at the Firehouse, where they are all winners in their fields. Mrs. Cole expressed pride in her students, while adding, “It is important for Decatur County students to participate in the annual contest. It links them to our agricultural based community.”

Kirkland, as the first place winner, will proceed on to the district competition, and if she wins that, she will advance to the state level.

Farm Bureau has been sponsoring the arts contests for at least 20 years, according to Long.