Third Grade winners Zachariah Demmer (1st), Olivia Richardson (2nd), Abrielle Kemp (3rd)

Nearly 100 third and fourth graders from Piscataquis Community Elementary School in Guilford were challenged to create an advertisement for Valley Grange as part of the annual “Newspapers in Education” program sponsored by the Piscataquis Observer. This is the seventh year the Grange has sponsored the program. Students have an opportunity to become “Honorary Assistant Publicity Directors” according to Walter Boomsma, Program and Publicity Director for Valley Grange. Under the direction of Art Teacher Jane Daniels students labored to produce ads that would promote the Grange and its programs.

Fourth Grade winners Eli Riitano (1st), Meriel Willey (2nd), Summer Nesbit (3rd)

The winning ads were featured during an assembly conducted at school by Boomsma on Friday, March 20 Boomsma pointed out “everyone who participated is winner” and the Grange is providing “thank you magnets you can use to hold your school papers on the fridge.” Boomsma also noted that the Grange was particularly pleased so many ads included a reading theme and dictionaries, reflecting the students’ appreciation for the Grange’s Bookworm and Words for Thirds Program. “Our goal with the kids is to create a love of reading and learning. These ads suggest we’re achieving it.”

Third Grade winners announced at the recent school assembly included Summer Nesbit (3rd), Olivia Richardson (2nd), and Zachariah Demmer (1st). Zachariah’s first place drawing suggested “Don’t be a snail, hurry on down to Valley Grange.” Fourth grade winners included Abrielle Kemp (3rd), Meriel Willey (2nd), and Eli Riitano (1st). Eli’s ad included a book being devoured by a book worm while a nearby apple was left uneaten.

All of the winners refused to give an acceptance speech with varying degrees of enthusiasm, but most were “media darlings” when interviewed and photographed by local reporter Mike Lange.

The ads selected as first place winners will appear in the Newspapers in Education supplement of the Piscataquis Observer on March 25^th. In addition, winning ads are used on the Grange’s promotional material throughout the year.

Valley Grange Master Jim Annis noted that Valley Grange is happy to sponsor a number of programs at PCES and other schools in the area. “We just love being at the school,” he noted. “These kids are our future and they give us hope.”