Commissioner Wilton Simpson Invites Students to Enter Florida Farm to School Essay and Art Contests
Florida middle and high school students can enter through November 16 for a chance to earn college funds, prizes, and statewide recognition
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In recognition of National Farm to School Month, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today is inviting Florida students to participate in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ annual Florida Farm to School Essay Contest and the inaugural Florida Farm to School Art Contest. Open now through November 16, 2026, the contests invite middle and high school students to explore how agriculture connects to their schools, communities, and everyday lives.
“Each year, Farm to School Month gives students a chance to develop a deeper appreciation for the hardworking farmers and ranchers who help our state thrive,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “These contests challenge students to think about the importance of Florida-grown foods and the vital role agriculture plays in their schools and communities.”
Florida high school students can compete for up to $3,000 toward college through the Farm to School Essay Contest, while middle school students can earn statewide recognition and the opportunity to have their artwork featured on official 2027 Farm to School Month campaign material through the new Farm to School Art Contest.
Florida Farm to School Essay Contest
Now in its third year, the Essay Contest is open to students in grades nine through twelve enrolled in public, private, charter, virtual and home-school programs. This year’s theme invites students to imagine themselves as a farmer in their own community, exploring what they would grow, how their farm would connect to their neighbors, and how it would support local schools and students.
Prizes include:
- Florida Investment 529 Plan: $3,000 (first place), $2,000 (second place) and $1,000 (third place)
- Publication of the first-place essay in a Florida agricultural publication
- Recognition at the 2027 Florida Farm to School Conference, plus a travel stipend
Longtime Farm to School advocate and recipient of FDACS’s 2025 Growing the Future Award, R.C. Hatton Farms returns as a contest partner, supporting the Florida Investment 529 Plan awards for student winners.
Florida Farm to School Art Contest
New this year, the Farm to School Art Contest is open to Florida students in grades six through eight enrolled in public, private, charter, virtual and home-school programs. Students are invited to create an original piece of 2D artwork celebrating Florida agriculture and its connection to their schools and communities. Artwork may draw inspiration from Florida-grown foods, local farmers and ranchers, school meals, school gardens, agricultural education programs and other Farm to School experiences.
Prizes include:
- First-place artwork featured on official 2027 Florida Farm to School Month campaign materials
- Recognition for the first-place winner at the 2027 Florida Farm to School Conference, plus a travel stipend
- Honorable mention artwork featured across digital channels, including the Farm to School website and the FDACS Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness social media channels
For both contests, students may submit one entry through FarmToSchoolFL.com/Contests during the contest period. Complete contest rules, eligibility requirements, submission guidelines and prize information are available online.
The contests are an extension of Florida’s Farm to School initiative, which aims to increase Florida commodities served in schools, offer more nutritious meal options for Florida’s children and enrich students’ agriculture and nutrition education through hands-on learning opportunities, including school garden activities.
Visit FarmToSchoolFL.com/Contests to learn more about the Florida Farm to School Essay and Art Contests, including official rules and how to enter.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.