CABOT, Vt. — In January, Cabot Creamery Cooperative put out the call for entries for the "Celebrate Your Cooperative Spirit in a Poem" contest. Middle-school students from across the country were encouraged to write an original poem, expressing how they've worked by themselves, with their families, friends or in the classroom to give back to their communities. The contest, drawing on the declaration by the United Nations naming 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives, was created by Cabot to recognize those who give back to their communities. The call was resoundingly answered, with more than 300 students from 21 states submitting entries before the April 30th deadline.
"The entries were so good; I know our poetry judge Geof Hewitt had a tough time choosing the winners for this year's contest," said Marie Frohlich, Cabot Community & Education Program Manager. "We're very proud that so many creative and talented students share the same spirit of volunteerism with our farm-family owners. Giving back is an essential principle of the cooperative philosophy, and we're delighted to see that middle school students from around the country are working to make a difference."
This year's Grand Prize Winner is Ansley Glenn, an eighth grade student at Spartanburg Day School in Spartanburg, SC. Her poem, Where Does Joy Come From?, is a beautiful encapsulation of the cooperative spirit.
To fill a bag with clothes and with food
Is to fill a heart with life and vitality;
A blue cotton coat to wrap 'round cold children,
Makes you see life in pure charity.
Life is not simply the year you have lived;
Life is not only reaching for dreams;
Life is the essence of bringing joy,
It shines and it shimmers just like sunbeams.
Sometimes it's said that giving is hard,
But I tell you that truly, it is not;
For when you give, this feeling of wellness
Arises deep within your heart.
It glistens and glimmers and then bursting forth,
Broadens a smile upon your face;
You know that your life has brought joy to another
And that is a feeling you cannot replace.
As the Grand Prize Winner, Ansley will receive $250, and her poem will be featured on Cabot Butter Boxes. Second Prize Winner Erin Lee from Tallahassee will receive $100 for her poem entitled Every Story Starts with a Song. Eight finalists, listed below, will receive $50 for their poems, and all winning poems are currently published on our co-sponsor's site at: www.potatohill.com.
Luna S. of Sharon, VT – Impact
Jonathan P. of Spartanburg, SC – Working Hands
James R. of Newton, MA – Better Days
Blake V. of Farmington Hills, MI – Folding Origami Cranes for the Kids of Japan Is…
Sunny E. of Holyoke, MA – The Lonely Bluejay
Erin R. of Colchester, CT – Giving Back to the Community
Zackary C. of Lake Butler, FL – Trash Picker Upper
Matti H. of Dedham, MA – One Simple Thing
The poetry contest was co-sponsored by Potato Hill Poetry, a Massachusetts-based studio founded by Andrew Green, a former English teacher in the Vermont public school system. Andrew, through Potato Hill Poetry, seeks to ignite a passion for poetry in young people and schools around the country.
"Good poems, just like community service, have the power to transform lives," says Andrew. "And when you put the two together, you see action and thought at work. The 2012 winning poems from middle-school students in this year's contest, reveal a keen sense of community spirit and the power of giving back, even on a small scale. Whether it's filling bags with groceries for those in need or sharing the gift of music at a nursing home, small acts of reaching out to others have a profound effect on the giver. Lifelong habits and lessons are learned. In the winning poems, we hear the music of words in rhythm with the music of giving. We should all be thankful for this."
ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE
Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and we make a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and butter. Best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by 1200 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York. For additional information on Cabot Creamery, visit http://www.cabotcheese.coop
Contact: Bob Schiers (888) 214.9444 or bschiers@cabotcheese.coop
Source: Cabot Creamery Cooperative