By Blake Jackson
Seventeen young Wisconsin students have earned recognition as state finalists in the annual Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom Essay Contest. The 2025 contest theme, “A Wisconsin Tree and Me: How Trees Grow Food and Fiber,” encouraged fourth and fifth graders to explore how trees contribute to agriculture.
Open to all students in grades four and five across Wisconsin, the contest received more than 1,500 essay submissions from 114 schools. Each grade competed in its own division, with county winners advancing to district levels. Now, the top essays from each district are competing for the honor of being named state champion.
As part of supporting agricultural education, 51 county Farm Bureaus across Wisconsin donated over $13,000 in agricultural books and educational materials to local schools and libraries.
Each of the 18 district winners was awarded a prize package that included a medal, a certificate of achievement, and a custom-designed laptop backpack.
Here are the 2025 state finalists:
- Fourth Grade Finalists
- Erik Schnellbaecher, Germantown
- Hailey Lindner, Fall River
- Annabelle Winkers, Fennimore
- Emma Kahrs, Tomah
- Eli Buchholz, Princeton
- Robynn Lindner, Chilton
- Katelyn Benedict, Port Edwards
- Cora Wood, Spring Valley
Fifth Grade Finalists
- Cadence Filer, Jefferson
- Adalyn Howe, Lodi
- Lilian Diedrich, Shullsburg
- Drew Brantner, Pepin
- Henry Schaefer, Brandon
- Ireland Rautmann, Kiel
- Auroara Reader Riley, Waupaca
- Delaney Darton, Three Lakes
- Annabelle Heitkamp, Colfax
State winners will be announced in early June and will be formally recognized on July 10, 2025, at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection board meeting. Winners will also receive cash prizes sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation and supporting partners Compeer Financial, AgCountry Financial, and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.
Photo Credit: shutterstock-alex-brylov
Categories: Wisconsin, Education