Hopewell Elementary student a winner in calendar art contest

ASHEBORO — Asher Hill, a fifth grader from Hopewell Elementary School, is one of 13 winners in the annual Farm to School Calendar Contest sponsored by the North Carolina Grange. Asher’s teacher is Cori Cagle.

Each month on the calendar depicts the art of a student and represents a different commodity. The calendar also includes daily facts about agriculture, giving students an understanding of agriculture’s role in food production. 

“It’s clear from this artwork that these students have a good understanding of farms and what agriculture looks like here in North Carolina,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said. “It was a very competitive year with over 3,500 entries from 58 counties. There is no denying the talent in this room. These students have a lot to be proud of.”

Prizes for student winners from kindergarten through fifth grade include gift cards from the NC Farm to School Cooperative and the School Nutrition Association of North Carolina. They were awarded at the Got to Be NC Festival in Raleigh on May 16.

Winning entrants are: 

■ Cover — Namya Singhal, a fifth grader from Morrisville Elementary in Wake County; Teacher: Jennifer Bracke.

■ August 2026 — Saylor Fulcher, a third grader from Tiller Charter School in Carteret County; Teacher: Sarah Harker Leary.

■ September 2026 — Asher Hill, a fifth grader from Hopewell Elementary in Randolph County; Teacher: Cori Cagle.

■ October 2026 — Esther De La Cruz Aureoles, a fourth grader from Shiloh Elementary in Union County; Teacher: Jill Ammons.

■ November 2026 — Parker Stewart, a fifth grader from Kitty Hawk Elementary in Dare County; Teacher: Brandy Stewart.

■ December 2026 — Isla Bost, a second grader from New Dimensions School in Burke County, Teacher: Jennifer Hudson.

■ January 2027 — Olivia Medlin, a fifth grader from Union Elementary in Union County; Teacher: Michelle Johnson.

■ February 2027 — Owen Seitzer, a kindergartener from Banks Elementary School in Lenoir County; Teacher: Gabriella Ham.

■ March 2027 — Evelyn Hernandez, a fourth grader from Rodgers Elementary in Martin County; Teacher: Taylor Camp.

■ April 2027 — Kevin Lucas Perez, a first grader from Peterson Elementary in Robeson County; Teacher: Tapanga Bullard.

■ May 2027 — Montserrat Vega Lopez, a fifth grader from Lillington Shawtown Elementary in Harnett County; Teacher: Coleen Bartley.

■ June 2027 — Ryan Openchowski, a fifth grader from Davis Drive Elementary in Wake County; Teacher: Benjamin Byron.

■ July 2027 — Sadie Lews, a second grader from Cool Spring Elementary in Iredell County; Teacher: Jessica Kessler.