An Illinois woman’s photo was a second-place finisher in a national contest and because of that, a rural school district’s ag department will be getting some new educational materials.
The Power to Do More contest, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, invited people to submit unique photos and stories showing the power of farming and the growing of stronger communities for a chance of a $10,000 grand prize. Marsha Strum of Dehinda submitted a photo of the community coming together to help raise a piece of playground equipment designed to look like a barn in the small rural town of Williamsfield.
Strum’s daughter, Joanie Stiers, says that the photo was a perfect fit for the contest.
“We were sitting in our farm office. My mom came up with the idea to submit the photo of the playground barn-raising project for the Power to Do More contest because she felt like the contest wanted a picture of the power of communities and farms. She felt it was a perfect fit to put the playground barn-raising photo in that competition,” Stiers tells WGIL. “We felt like that photo symbolizes the power of what people can do when they give their funds, time, talents, and heart to obtain a common goal.”
Stiers is the director of the Williamsfield FFA Alumni and Friends, who benefits from the second-place prize of $5,000. She said the nonprofit will put that prize into the school district for new tools and equipment for the soon-to-be-finished renovations for the ag department.
Stiers called it “heartwarming” how the little town of less than 600 could place so high on the national competition.
“We were very excited and hoped we could go for that $10,000. It was really fun to see — and very heartwarming — to see the community response.”
Besides the $20,000 being awarded to the top three vote-getters, Corteva is awarding $7,000 to the other finalists and the nonprofit organizations they’re associated with.
