From fields to bookshelves Children create colorful stories about California agriculture
Story by Judy Farah
Everyone loves a good story. Whether it’s a child following along as his parent reads a picture book or an adult recalling a grandparent’s tale of a great adventure of long ago, stories can awaken the mind and transport you to a different place and time. Through the innovative “Imagine this…” StoryWriting Contest, schoolchildren have the opportunity each year to create their own stories. The rules are simple: Tell a story, true or fictional, about something related to agriculture. The story can be about a fruit or a vegetable, a farm animal, plants or whatever sparks the imagination of third- through eighth-grade students. Teachers involved in the contest instruct students on research, writing, grammar and how to tell a narrative. The young writers create characters and dialogue for their stories, and high school art students illustrate the winning entries using watercolors, colored pencils, ink and Sharpies. The stories are then published in a colorful storybook (see Book Reviews on Page 11). “‘Imagine this…’ has allowed me to teach good writ ing ski l ls whi le ta lking with the kids about agriculture,” third-grade teacher Jennifer Limberg of Glenn County said. “It’s a huge part of our community, so it also fits in well with our social studies program.”
This year’s winning entries include stories about where wool and pistachios come from, the importance of families and the journey of a drop of water through California. Nathan Tanega of Stanislaus County, the eighth- grade state winner, said he was surprised to learn of the important role of California farmers and ranchers: “For example, I had no idea California was No. 1 in the nation producing f lowers.” More than 1,000 students statewide took part in the 2020 “Imagine this…” program, sponsored by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. “The contest gives students the chance to think about agriculture in a different way. It causes students to investigate how agriculture impacts their lives and learn about the people and processes required to get food to their tables and fiber into the clothes they wear,” said Judy Culbertson, the foundation’s executive director. “We see such a wide range of topics that students choose to write about. The stories that impersonate fruits and vegetables are some of our favorites!”
Judy Farah jfarah@californiabountiful.com
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September/October 2020
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