Students draw on talent for Aggie Days art competition
Some say life imitates art. On the other hand, art has skilfully imitated life — agricultural life, that is — thanks to the creativity of Calgary-area schoolchildren.
The Calgary Stampede’s annual Aggie Days Art Contest, presented by Bayer Cropscience Inc., has once again proven a resounding success in the run-up to Aggie Days, with hundreds of impressive submissions turned in from across southern Alberta.
The work of these young Rembrandts will be displayed at the Bayer Cropscience Inc. exhibit. Come enjoy the variety of artwork as the Family Fun Days portion of the Stampede’s 27th annual Aggie Days takes over the BMO Centre and the Stampede Corral at Stampede Park on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22.
“We try to get the kids to think about agriculture and what it means to them — and express themselves in a creative way through art,” says Tanya Jorgensen-bell, a member of the Stampede’s Agriculture Education Committee and a marketing co-ordinator with Bayer Cropscience.
This year’s theme focuses on the Stampede’s Centennial celebration along with 100 years of agriculture. And from a field of more than 500 submissions, two overall winners were crowned — Luis Navas of Calgary’s Clear Water Academy in Division 1 (for Grades 1 to 3), and Sara Kay Flamenco of Calgary’s John Paul II school in Division 2 (Grades 4 to 6). Each student wins $100, while their schools receive a $2,500 technology spending spree, courtesy of Bayer Cropscience.
“All entries were winners in our book,” says Sandra Leach of Bayer Cropscience’s Innovation and Public Affairs. “Such an overwhelming response of submissions . . . it’s always a pleasant surprise to see the fantastic creativity expressed in the artwork from the students.”
Three runners-up in each division were awarded $50 prizes — Joshua Stadnyk of Okotoks’ Edison School, Mariella Mcvea of Calgary’s St. Cecilia, and Starla Albrecht of Drumheller’s Greentree School in Division 1; along with Jieun You of Calgary’s Chinook Park and Marla Graham and Angela Siauw of Calgary’s St. Mark in Division 2.