La Grange fourth grader draws Farm to School calendar cover

A picture drawn by a fourth grader at La Grange Elementary School has been chosen as the cover of the new Farm to School calendar published annually by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Alisson Rios won the honor in competition that solicited entries from elementary-age public school students from across North Carolina. Thirteen entries were chosen for the 2020-2021 calendar – but only one was chosen to grace the calendar’s cover.

This original artwork by La Grange Elementary School fourth grader Alisson Rios will grace the cover of the 2020-2021 Farm to School calendar published by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Alisson’s picture was chosen from among entries by elementary-age students from across the state.

“Alisson is a very talented student all around. She is very attentive to details in her artwork. She always exceeds my expectations on assignments and is respectful, responsible and kind,” Grace Hale, the art teacher at La Grange Elementary, said. “I am so proud to see her hard work being recognized on the Farm to School calendar cover! I know that she will continue to excel in her artistic endeavors!”

Five students of art teacher Tristan Johnson at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School were also chosen for Farm to School calendar honors. Fourth grader Ashli Hidalgo-Martinez was selected as one of 25 finalists and four students received honorable mention citations for their grade level. Those students are Kennady Towne (kindergarten), Olive Phelps (first grade), Peyton Emory (third grade) and Emily Raynor (fifth grade).

The calendar is a central piece of NCDA’s Farm to School program and is designed to highlight the diversity of agriculture in the state. Entries must be original and created completely by the student.

The N.C. Farm to School program has been supplying school cafeterias across our state with the locally grown produce from North Carolina farms since 1997.