CABOT, Vt. — The results are in three Vermont middle-school students have
come out on top in Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s “Butter Up The World” Poetry
Contest. The call for entries went out in November, asking 5th-8th grade
students in the New England area to write an original poem on the topic of dairy
farming. Hundreds entered, but only three finalists were selected, with one
first prize poem to be featured on Cabot butter boxes set to hit stores in mid
to late April.
First prize went to Jackson G., a fifth grade student at Hinesburg Community
School in Hinesburg Vermont, whose untitled poem delves into the symbiotic
relationship between cows and dairy farmers. Eighth grader, Cierra F. of Georgia
Elementary & Middle School in St. Albans, VT took second place with a beautiful
poem entitled Got Milk?. Third place was awarded to Sadie D., a seventh grade
student at The Sharon Academy in South Royalton, VT for her poem, Ode to
Glorious Milk.
“I am extremely impressed with the quality and poetry talent that our New
England students demonstrated during the ‘Butter Up the World’ Poetry Contest,”
said Cabot Community & Education Program Manager, Marie Frohlich. “We had more
than one hundred entries, so you can imagine how difficult it was for judge and
distinguished New England poet Geof Hewitt to choose three winners. Cabot would
like to thank everyone for participating we are grateful to have received so
many poems that truly capture the spirit of dairy farming and life on a dairy
farm.”
First Place Poem
Untitled
by Jackson G., Grade 5, Hinesburg Community School, Hinesburg, VT
Cows walk through the morning’s haze
See a patch of grass and graze
The farmers walk out of the barn with pride
Cows and people side by side
The cows moo and chew on grass
Thinking and thinking while birds pass
Thinking about what they would do
Without all of you, yes, you
And the farmers of Vermont, too
The farmers have their thoughts as well
Thinking and thinking of just how swell
Milking cows deep sound so mellow
Humming, mooing, like a cello
Humans and cows
Depend on each other
Like a baby and its mother
The Butter Up Your World 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 who saw a need for students to share poems and
to read and learn about poetry. Potato Hill Poetry is a realization of that
need. Find out more at www.potatohill.com.
The three finalists will receive cash prizes: first place wins $100; second
place wins $50; and third place wins $25. The complete poems from the three
finalists can be found on Cabot’s website at
www.cabotcheese.coop.
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
Source:
Cabot Creamery Cooperative
