{"id":55495,"date":"2022-06-28T08:34:13","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T16:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/06\/28\/florida-officials-announce-winners-of-student-hemp-innovation-essay-contest\/"},"modified":"2022-06-28T08:45:28","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T16:45:28","slug":"florida-officials-announce-winners-of-student-hemp-innovation-essay-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/06\/28\/florida-officials-announce-winners-of-student-hemp-innovation-essay-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Officials Announce Winners Of Student Hemp Innovation Essay Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<p>The Florida Agriculture Department on Tuesday announced eight winners from students grades 5-11 who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/florida-officials-invite-students-grades-4-12-to-invent-new-uses-for-hemp-as-part-of-essay-contest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">submitted essays on innovative uses for hemp<\/a> as part of an annual \u201cAgricultural History and Creativity\u201d contest.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s contest stood out for its focus on the cannabis plant\u2019s alternative, sustainable uses. The department has worked to support the burgeoning hemp industry, especially following the crop\u2019s federal legalization under the 2018 Farm Bill.<\/p>\n<p>It invited students grades 4-11 to submit 500-word essays to be eligible for $1,000 scholarships and be honored at next year\u2019s Florida Cabinet meeting at the state Capitol. Those students have now been selected, though the department didn\u2019t detail what hemp-related topics the winning essays covered.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Throughout the months of April and May, students from all across our state submitted essays about hemp innovation \u2014 we are so excited to announce the eight winners of the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FDACS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">@FDACS<\/a> Agricultural History and Creativity Award Competition! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/H8RuKpeuxF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pic.twitter.com\/H8RuKpeuxF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NikkiFriedFL\/status\/1541800023394078720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">June 28, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p \/>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m inspired by all of the students who participated in this year\u2019s contest, and I want to congratulate the winners whose essays really stood out,\u201d Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is also a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdacs.gov\/News-Events\/Press-Releases\/2022-Press-Releases\/Commissioner-Nikki-Fried-Announces-Winners-of-2022-Florida-Agriculture-History-Creativity-Award-Essay-Contest\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">press release<\/a>. \u201cTheir innovative approaches to creating new products out of such a versatile commodity like hemp leaves me with no doubt that the future of Florida agriculture is bright!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are the winners:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Anvita Devulapalli, Grade 5<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Charlotte Sikes, Grade 5<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Mahalia Louissaint, Grade 6<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Lena Bent, Grade 7<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Isaiah Gabriel, Grade 7<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Aylin Osorio, Grade 10\u00a0<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Makayla Guilbeau, Grade 11<u \/><u \/><\/li>\n<li>Tessa Mullis, Grade 11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A description of the essay requirements explained that hemp was federally legalized, and the crop represents a \u201cdiverse commodity, and it can be refined into a variety of commercial items such as paper, rope, paint, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust as hi-tech innovations have changed the very foundation of how we conceive of everything from phones to computers to household appliances; the same is true of hemp,\u201d it said. \u201cSome of the most notable inventions made of hemp include planes, cars, batteries, eyeglasses, hempcrete (concrete building material), plastics and so much more. The possibilities are endless.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 500-word essays were supposed to focus on inventions that the students came up with that could be made with at least 50 percent hemp.<\/p>\n<p>The contest prompt went on to detail how the crop is currently being utilized\u2014as an environmentally sustainable alternative to concrete, textiles and plastics. The guidelines from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services were different for each of the three grade groups that could submit essays, but all submissions needed be based on a \u201cproduct that you have invented that will be created with at least 50 percent hemp materials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fried has been a vocal advocate for the hemp industry and marijuana reform in general, so it\u2019s not especially surprising that she\u2019d helm the hemp-focused contest, even if the idea of encouraging elementary school students to write about cannabis\u2014albeit in its nonintoxicating form\u2014could have potentially ruffled some conservative feathers.<\/p>\n<p>Fried has publicly stated that she\u2019s a medical cannabis cardholder in the state, and she previously\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tallahassee.com\/story\/news\/local\/state\/2021\/06\/06\/gop-strikes-back-after-nikki-fried-amends-her-financial-disclosures-florida-governors-race\/7569148002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lobbied<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of a plant farm that was later bought out by a major cannabis company before she became the Florida\u2019s top agriculture regulator.<\/p>\n<p>She frequently talks about her advocacy for cannabis policy reform on social media, and she has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandosentinel.com\/news\/os-ne-prem-nikki-fried-medical-marijuana-20210611-dzil5daz7rfw7k7mjf6szxpo7y-story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">investments<\/a>\u00a0in a marijuana company.<\/p>\n<p>The commissioner also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/florida-official-awaits-justice-departments-response-to-medical-marijuana-patients-gun-rights-lawsuit-this-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recently spoke with Marijuana Moment<\/a> about a lawsuit she filed against the Biden administration about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/florida-official-sues-biden-administration-over-gun-rights-for-medical-marijuana-patients-on-4-20\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gun rights for medical cannabis patients<\/a>, who are current barred for purchasing or possessing firearms simply for admitting to marijuana use, even if such activity is lawful under state law.<\/p>\n<p>Regulators in Fried\u2019s office have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/florida-regulators-blast-oregon-hemp-products-and-encourage-consumers-to-buy-local-in-new-alert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criticized Oregon hemp businesses over hemp products<\/a>\u00a0that they say contain rocks and sticks and have failed to meet regulatory guidelines on allowable THC content. Instead, consumers should buy local products made in Florida, Fried\u2019s department said.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/wells-fargo-closes-florida-politicians-account-due-to-marijuana-donations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the national bank Wells Fargo fired Fried as a client<\/a>\u00a0because her campaign has received donations from \u201clobbyists from the medical marijuana industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"MI8CM1eoVy\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/washington-state-activists-call-off-drug-decriminalization-ballot-effort-even-as-new-poll-shows-voter-support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Washington State Activists Call Off Drug Decriminalization Ballot Effort Even As New Poll Shows Voter Support<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p \/>\n<p><em>Photo courtesy of Brendan Cleak.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/florida-officials-announce-winners-of-student-hemp-innovation-essay-contest\/\" target=\"_blank\">Florida Officials Announce Winners Of Student Hemp Innovation Essay Contest<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\" target=\"_blank\">Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<br \/>\nRead More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/florida-officials-announce-winners-of-student-hemp-innovation-essay-contest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Florida Officials Announce Winners Of Student Hemp Innovation Essay Contest<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Florida Agriculture Department on Tuesday announced eight winners from students grades 5-11 who submitted essays on innovative uses for hemp as part of an annual \u201cAgricultural History and Creativity\u201d contest. This year\u2019s contest stood out for its focus on the cannabis plant\u2019s alternative, sustainable uses. The department has worked<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/06\/28\/florida-officials-announce-winners-of-student-hemp-innovation-essay-contest\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[99,18],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55495"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55495"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55496,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55495\/revisions\/55496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}