MISSISSIPPI BOY CHAMPION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 74, 17 January 1947, Page 3

MISSISSIPPI BOY CHAMPION

JUNIOR VEGETABLE GROWERS EYES SET ON COLLEGE DEGREE A Columbia, Miss., high school senior, with his eyes set on a college degree, recently was named 1946 champion in the National Junior Vegetable Growers Association production and marketing contest, as the organisation opened its 12th annual three-day convention at the Hotel Bradford, states a recent issue of the Christian Science Monitor.

Jim Spell, 17, topped the nation’s junior growers to win a 500 dollar A. and P. Food Stores’ scholarship. The food chain made available a total of 6000 dollars in awards in 48 States for the annual contest.

The Mississippi youth’s project covered only an acre, but it yielded vegetable crops valued at 1074 dollars, less such costs as 2 dollars an hour for the use of his father’s tractor, ora dollar a day for the use of a mule.

Prof. Grant B. Snyder, of Massachusetts State College, the junior growers’ adult adviser, also named four regional champions, each to receive 200 dollar scholarships. In the Northeastern States, Lewis G. Schaeneman of East Longmeadow, Mass., outfardened competitors. His two and one-half acres yielded produce worth 894 dollars at a moderate cost that included the use of time-saving controls.

Central States champion is Donald Mowery, 20', of North Terra Haute, Ind. Donald, President of the National Junior Growers in 1944, learned his gardening technique even before he took over the home farm six years ago.

In the Southern States, the top winner next to the national champion is Marjorie Ann Bell, 15, of Yukon, Okla., who spent only 99 hours on her half-acre garden, but harvested vegetables worth 211.50 dollars. She also helped her family operate the 800-acre home farm.

In the Western States, the champion is George Grenz, 19, of Albany, Ore. He is a cousin and neighbour of last year’s national champion, James Ammon, now attending Oregon State College. George admits he got pointers from his cousin on using good seed, selling only topquality produce, and marketing earlier than most of his neighbours.

In addition to scores who received 10 dollar incentive awards, there were 33 winners and 100 dollar scholarships. N