Valley Grange ad contest winners 

GUILFORD — Over 40 fourth-graders from Piscataquis Community Elementary School were challenged to create an advertisement for Valley Grange as part of the annual “Newspapers in Education” program sponsored by the Piscataquis Observer. This is the 12th year the Grange has sponsored the program.

Students have an opportunity to become “Honorary Assistant Publicity Directors” according to Walter Boomsma, program and publicity director for Valley Grange. Under the direction of art teacher Mark Arthers students labored to produce ads that would promote the Grange and its programs.

Boomsma pointed out “everyone who participated is a winner” and the Grange is providing “thank you magnets you can use to hold your school papers on the fridge.” Boomsma also noted that the Grange was particularly pleased so many ads included a reading theme and dictionaries, reflecting the students’ appreciation for the Grange’s Bookworm and Words for Thirds programs. “Our goal with the kids is to create a love of reading and learning,” he said. “These ads suggest we’re achieving it.”

Winners included Teegan Pomerleau (third place), Lillyon Boutilier  (second place) and Ava Edes (first place). 

Edes’ ad included a book being devoured by a bookworm and two people reading together, noting that “volunteers are needed” to “come help kids learn.”

Her first-place ad appears in the Newspapers in Education supplement of the Piscataquis Observer. In addition, winning ads are used on the Grange’s promotional material throughout the year and featured on the Valley Grange website.

Valley Grange Master Jim Annis noted that Valley Grange is happy to sponsor several programs at PCES and other schools in the area. “We just love being involved with the school,” he noted. “These kids are our future and they give us hope.”