Hudson Smith, 8, compared the farming techniques used by grain farmers from years gone by to how it looks now. 

GrainGrowers chief executive officer David McKeon  announced the winners of the Spirit of Grains children's art competition which ran this year in conjunction with GrainGrowers' 60th Anniversary.

The competition encouraged children on Australian grain farms to tell their family's grain farming story, blending details of the past and the present. Five to eight year olds were asked to submit a drawing, nine to 14 year olds, an essay illustrated with photographs, and 15 to 18 year olds, a video.

The finalists were showcased for guests at GrainGrowers' black-tie dinner in Dubbo.

Mr McKeon said it was great to receive so many entries from children on grain farms across Australia.  

“In our 60th Anniversary year, it was a pleasure to see children celebrating their family's grains history and using their talents to show us how much the farming methods of the past contrast with modern farming practices we see today," said Mr McKeon.

"GrainGrowers is proud to serve grain farmers throughout Australia and to work to build a profitable and sustainable future for them,” he said. 

"We hope the children of grain farmers will grow up to go on to work either on their family farms or in one of the wide variety of rewarding occupations available to them in the grains industry. There is an excellent future for them in grains,” Mr McKeon said.

Winners:

Five to eight-year-olds

Entry: Drawing

Prize: iPad

Winner: Hudson Smith, 8, Lockhart, NSW. 

The property where Hudson Smith drew his inspiration form is called “Moonlyong” and is approximately 700ha. The property grows wheat, barley, canola and vetch. 

Nine to 14-year-olds

Entry: Essay and photographs

Prize: GoPro

Winner: Zoe Proude, 14, Charlton Gully, South Australia

Zoe’s family has been farming for six generations on the family farm, ‘Moni – Carbi’, on the lower Eyre Peninsula Zoe has developed a passion for science (including agricultural science), technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and would like to see the State allow the use of genetically modified crops.

15-18-year-olds

Entry: Video

Prize: Drone

Winner: Stirling Taylor, 17, Grenfell. 

Stirling’s family has been farming in the Tyagong Valley for more than 60 years, and in the surrounding areas for nearly 100 years. The Taylor family runs a mixed farm operation producing lucerne, canola and wheat and sheep.