Katharine Girone Selected as 2018 #RootedinAg Contest Winner
Learn more about the grand prizewinner and the person who most nourished her agricultural roots.
Based on the quality of her entry and the number of online votes, Katharine Girone is the grand prizewinner of the 2018 Thrive #RootedinAg contest. Girone is a program coordinator for 4-H youth development at the University of Illinois Extension in Pekin, Illinois. She and her family also operate a fifth-generation farm in rural Varna.
Earlier this year, Syngenta asked contest participants to describe in about 200 words the person who most nourished their agricultural roots. A panel of judges then selected five finalists, including Girone, who each received a mini touch-screen tablet and the chance to compete for the grand prize—a $500 gift card and $1,000 donation to his or her favorite local charity or civic organization.
In her winning essay, Girone names her grandfather, Kenneth McKee, as the person who most influenced her love of agriculture. She writes, “Though my grandfather is not as young as he once was, when I look at him, I still see the hands of a faithful farmer: hands worn by hard, physical labor; hands that have held life; hands that sowed the seed to feed the world; and hands that welcome me home.”
Syngenta is proud to recognize Girone and her grandfather through the annual #RootedinAg contest, notes Wendell Calhoun, communications manager at Syngenta. “We thank everyone who shared their inspirational stories with us and who took the time to vote for their favorite finalist,” he says. “Our winner is an exceptional young woman, who credits her grandfather with helping to instill her love of agriculture. We share that love and are excited to not only honor them, but to give back to 4-H, an organization that benefits so many young people across the country.”
Details on the 2019 #RootedinAg competition will be coming to this website soon. But for now, please enjoy Girone’s heartfelt essay below.
Lessons From My “Papa”
By Katharine Girone
I can still vividly see my “first” agricultural memory. I am in the barn, awkwardly clutching a young, bottle lamb. My grandfather, “Papa,” is explaining to me how to keep its head up while it drinks.
In that moment, I was not just a four year old, I was a farmer like my Papa. That desire to be like my grandfather did not stop there, and it continues to drive me to be the agriculturalist I am today.
While many of my lessons and time spent with Papa were with the livestock, I still craved knowledge for the other aspects of the fifth-generation farm. Throwing and stacking hay bales was not simply a test of endurance, but an opportunity for me to learn how the baler worked and how the cuttings differed from each other.
Though my grandfather is not as young as he once was, when I look at him, I still see the hands of a faithful farmer: hands worn by hard, physical labor; hands that have held life; hands that sowed the seed to feed the world; and hands that welcome me home. It takes deep roots to make it in agriculture, and I am so grateful to be able to model my own journey through agriculture after my grandfather’s.
As their annual #RootedinAg contest comes to a close, @SyngentaUS announces the 2018 winner.
click to tweet 
Earlier this year, Syngenta asked contest participants to describe in about 200 words the person who most nourished their agricultural roots. A panel of judges then selected five finalists, including Girone, who each received a mini touch-screen tablet and the chance to compete for the grand prize—a $500 gift card and $1,000 donation to his or her favorite local charity or civic organization.
In her winning essay, Girone names her grandfather, Kenneth McKee, as the person who most influenced her love of agriculture. She writes, “Though my grandfather is not as young as he once was, when I look at him, I still see the hands of a faithful farmer: hands worn by hard, physical labor; hands that have held life; hands that sowed the seed to feed the world; and hands that welcome me home.”
Girone plans to donate the $1,000 award from Syngenta to the Tazewell County 4-H program in honor of her grandfather. She chose this group because of its lasting impact on the bond she shares with her grandfather. “In my tenure as a 4-H member, my grandfather made it to every 4-H show of mine,” she says. “He is a 4-H alumni, retired 4-H leader and retired 4-H sheep department superintendent. Giving back to this amazing organization that has affected both of us so deeply only seems fitting.”“Our winner is an exceptional young woman, who credits her grandfather with helping to instill her love of agriculture. We share that love and are excited to not only honor them, but to give back to 4-H, an organization that benefits so many young people across the country.”
Syngenta is proud to recognize Girone and her grandfather through the annual #RootedinAg contest, notes Wendell Calhoun, communications manager at Syngenta. “We thank everyone who shared their inspirational stories with us and who took the time to vote for their favorite finalist,” he says. “Our winner is an exceptional young woman, who credits her grandfather with helping to instill her love of agriculture. We share that love and are excited to not only honor them, but to give back to 4-H, an organization that benefits so many young people across the country.”
Details on the 2019 #RootedinAg competition will be coming to this website soon. But for now, please enjoy Girone’s heartfelt essay below.
I can still vividly see my “first” agricultural memory. I am in the barn, awkwardly clutching a young, bottle lamb. My grandfather, “Papa,” is explaining to me how to keep its head up while it drinks.
In that moment, I was not just a four year old, I was a farmer like my Papa. That desire to be like my grandfather did not stop there, and it continues to drive me to be the agriculturalist I am today.
While many of my lessons and time spent with Papa were with the livestock, I still craved knowledge for the other aspects of the fifth-generation farm. Throwing and stacking hay bales was not simply a test of endurance, but an opportunity for me to learn how the baler worked and how the cuttings differed from each other.
Though my grandfather is not as young as he once was, when I look at him, I still see the hands of a faithful farmer: hands worn by hard, physical labor; hands that have held life; hands that sowed the seed to feed the world; and hands that welcome me home. It takes deep roots to make it in agriculture, and I am so grateful to be able to model my own journey through agriculture after my grandfather’s.
share this article
