Be Aware of New York Agriculture 2007 Winners
Grade 4
Poem: “New York Agriculture”
The poem can be general or specific. If specific, focus on one of the over 200 agricultural commodities produced in New York State.
1st Place - Claudia McGlew, Cattaraugus, NY
New York Agriculture
New York we call the Empire State;
We grow lots of food to fill up your plate.
The grapes are plenty. The apples are sweet,
And New York’s beef provides our meat.
Call them hogs or call them swine,
New York ham is mighty fine!
We have sheep and we have goats,
And all of us enjoy good oats!
Ducks, they waddle and chickens scratch,
And look over here - the gosling hatched!
Strawberries, peaches, cherries galore,
We love fruit, let’s have some more!
Asparagus, lettuce, celery and beans.
New York is healthy, know what I mean?
Cows produce milk and bees produce honey,
New York agriculture brings the state lots of money!
Maple syrup in winter and pumpkins in fall
New York agriculture is the best of all!
2nd Place - Leeann Schultheis, Arkport, NY
Strawberries
Strawberries are my favorite fruits;
I don’t have to give you a reason,
But they are the best fruit of the season.
They’re big and red with a long green stem;
My family eats lots of them.
As you seem my Dad has been growing strawberries since about eleven,
And every time you take a bite it taste like heaven.
Ten acres of strawberries is what we own;
We work hard to make sure they are grown.
In order to keep the field the best,
My sisters and I don’t get much rest.
Fall is not the best season;
We lay hay to make sure the berries aren’t freezin'.
So mark your calendars for this June,
And remember, the best time to pick is before noon.
3rd Place - Hannah Hicks, McGraw, NY
Maple Syrup
Not many people think of
the maple tree,
Of its leaves so green and
its sheer beauty.
But it holds something more
you’ll want to meet:
It’s sap, that when boiled tastes
oh, so sweet.
Collecting the sap can be really
fun;
Going into the woods under
the warm sun.
Taking it to the sugar house
to be boiled on a fire.
The syrup tastes real good
after a long day’s tire.
Honorable Mention - Jakob Transki, Colden, NY
My Farm Adventure
Farms are cool;
In fact, they rule!
Some have cows, pigs, sheep,
Horses, cats, dogs, and even geese.
Farmers grow crops,
Like corn and hay.
Many farmers work
Throughout the day.
Cows make milk
For people to drink,
While others are butchered
And used for meat,
And the manure for fields
Smells bad, I think!
Do you see that pig
Laying in the mud?
He's cooling off
In the hot, hot sun.
Have you seen him run?
Man, is he squirelly.
His color is pink.
His tail is curly.
I'm getting tired;
It's now time for bed.
The animals are singing
Silly songs in my head.
Tomorrow I'll learn more,
Because I'm going online.
Do you want to learn, too,
New friend of mine?
Honorable Mention - Amy Blake, Arkport, NY
Crops and Livestock
Apples, strawberries, peaches, and more,
We also have vegetables in. the store.
Farmers grow apples for apple pie;
They are very sad if their apple trees die.
Farmers wake up early to take care of their farm;
The Morgan horse is a real charm.
There are white blossoms on appple trees.
They smell sweet in the cool, cool breeze.
The farmer's red barn has a lock,
And in that barn is livestock.
New York agriculture has a lot,
And some of the meats are in my mom’s cooking pot.
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