[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      INDIANA WINNERS OF 1993-94 EIGHTH GRADE YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate a group 
of young Indiana students who have shown great educative achievement. I 
would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues the winners of 
the 1993-94 Eighth Grade Youth Essay Contest which I sponsor in 
association with the Indiana Farm Bureau and Bank One of Indianapolis. 
These students have displayed strong writing abilities and have proven 
themselves to be outstanding young Hoosier scholars. I submit their 
names for the Congressional Record because they demonstrate the 
capabilities of today's students and are fine representatives of our 
Nation.
  This year, Hoosier students wrote on the theme, ``Pyramid Builders 
Live on Indiana Farms.'' Students were encouraged to consider and 
creatively express what effect Indiana agriculture has on their daily 
lives. I would like to submit for the Record the winning essays of Sara 
Hounshell of Orange County and Christopher J. Myers of Wabash County. 
As State winners of the Youth Essay Contest, these two outstanding 
students were recognized on Friday, March 18, 1994, during a visit to 
our Nation's Capital.
  The essays follow:

                 Pyramid Builders Live on Indiana Farms

                   (By Sara Hounshell, Orange County)

       I am an Egyptian girl, thirteen years of age. Once a 
     stranger visited from a far away place called Indiana. This 
     was his story.
       ``You're not alone in pyramid building. Indiana farmers 
     contribute to what we call the `Food Guide Pyramid,' a chart 
     which I'll explain.
       ``Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta form the base group, and 
     provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber. On the next level, 
     providing these same nutrients, are the fruit and vegetable 
     groups. Next is the milk, yogurt, and cheese group, and the 
     meat, fish, eggs, poultry, dry beans, and nuts group. Both 
     provide calcium, iron, and zinc. The top group, containing 
     fats, sweets, and oils, should be avoided. These foods 
     contain many calories and few nutrients.''
       He paused and I reflected on his words. ``Why is a balanced 
     diet so important?'' I asked.
       ``Eating a balanced diet prevents disease. By avoiding 
     excess sodium, sugar, and cholesterol, you avoid health 
     disorders that could lead to premature death, like coronary 
     heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. Obesity 
     causes heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. More benefits of 
     a healthy diet are a great appearance and a longer, more 
     productive life,'' he replied.
       I thought for a minute and then asked, ``Why are Indiana 
     farmers important to a healthy diet?''
       He answered, ``Indiana farmers raise many animals, like 
     cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, and fish. They also grow 
     plants, such as corn, soybeans, oats, barley, wheat, fruits, 
     and vegetables. These products are grown on Indiana farms of 
     all sizes and are sold world wide.
       ``Indiana farmers are some of the most important, yet over-
     looked men in our land. Without them, we would be nothing.''
       Long after he'd left, I still thought of his words. This 
     Indiana sounds like a wonderful place and the Indiana farmer, 
     a hero.
                                  ____


                 Pyramid Builders Live on Indiana Farms

                (By Christopher J. Myers, Wabash County)

       Today's Indiana farmers are the pyramid builders of the 
     twentieth-century. Just as the ancient Egyptians used the 
     products of the earth and technology to build important 
     pyramids, so do Indiana farmers. Using the rich earth and 
     modern technology, they build the levels of the United States 
     Department of Agriculture's food pyramid.
       It is said that, ``Variety is the spice of life.'' 
     According to the food pyramid, variety is the key to building 
     a balanced diet. The pyramid base contains foods made from 
     grains. Eating six to seven servings daily provides important 
     fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The second level recommends 
     that you eat three to five servings of vegetables and two to 
     four servings of fruit daily. The milk and meat groups are 
     located on the third level. Two to three servings daily 
     provides protein, calcium, iron, and zinc. Fats, oils, and 
     sweets at the tip of the pyramid should be eaten sparingly.
       Eating a balanced diet has many benefits. A diet low in fat 
     and cholesterol reduces your chance of having a heart attack 
     and some cancers. Limiting your intake of fats, oils, and 
     sweets helps maintain a healthy weight. This may prevent high 
     blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Using 
     only small amounts of salt reduces the risk of high blood 
     pressure.
       Indiana farmers produce an amazing variety of products on 
     65,000 farms covering 16 million acres. Indiana is ranked 
     first nationally in the production of popcorn and ducks; 
     third in eggs and soybeans; and fourth in chickens, tomatoes, 
     and corn. Today's Hoosier farm worker produces enough food to 
     feed seventy-five additional people in the United States and 
     twenty-one people abroad.
       In the future, we will continue to depend on Hoosier 
     farmers to provide high quality products from the good earth 
     to build the food pyramid.
                                  ____


                        1993-94 District Winners

       District 1: Kelly Doreen Hannon, Dan Jancha.
       District 2: Rachel Vonderau, Benjamin Cichocki.
       District 3: Stacy Tebo, Nathan Blume.
       District 4: Kathryn Gilbert, Christopher J. Myers.
       District 5: Adam Phillips.
       District 6: Jacqueline M. Boone, Shawn Howard.
       District 7: Sandra Halter, Paul Fleschner.
       District 8: Laura Willett, Mike Pogue.
       District 9: Sara Hounshell, Kelly David O'Donnell.
       District 10: Darcy Lynn Fowler, Justin Selmeyer.
                                  ____


                         1993-94 County Winners

       Allen: Rachel Vonderau, Benjamin Cichocki.
       Bartholomew: Laura Willett, Mike Pogue.
       Blackford: Kristin Dinse, Nick Ehrhart.
       Carroll: Nate Slavens.
       Cass: Jessica Smith, Nathan Blume.
       Clay: Kate Yegerlehner.
       Clinton: Kelley Gray.
       Daviess: Sandra Halter.
       Delaware: Robyn Pearson, Scott Lynn Cain.
       Dearborn: Darcy Lynne Fowler, Justin Selmeyer.
       Decatur: Christy Kunz, Hale Kile.
       Fayette: Heather Mitchell, Chad Mauger.
       Floyd: Heather Bunch, Nathan Hock.
       Franklin: Carrie Mergenthal.
       Fulton: Amy Allison Eizinger.
       Gibson: Rebecca Coomer.
       Hamilton: Jacqueline Boone, Michael Cochran.
       Harrison: Sarah Yeager, Chris Chamber.
       Howard: David Fang.
       Jay: Kathryn Gilbert, Matt Vold.
       Lake: Ann Marie Bronowski, Michael Flutka.
       Madison: Harmony Warner, Jeremy Davis.
       Marion: Andrea Kirk, Shawn Howard.
       Morgan: Adam Phillips.
       Newton: Stacey Tebo, John Wheelock.
       Orange: Sara Houshell.
       Porter: Kelly Doreen Hannon, Andy Bien.
       Posey: Sarah Seib, Mark Alan Blackburn.
       Randolph: Anita Harris, Isaac Thornburg.
       St. Joseph: Jill Boruff, Dan Jancha.
       Starke: Kristie J. Kelley, John Ostrega.
       Switzerland: Jerri Lynn Peters, Nathan Jones.
       Vanderburgh: Leah Michelsen, Kelly David O'Donnell.
       Vigo: Kirsten Henry, Paul Fleschner.
       Wabash: Brandy E. Smith, Christopher J. Myers.
       Warrick: Jessica Locker, Erick T. Hilbert.
       Washington: Kelly Hauger, Andrew Knapp.
       Wayne: Beth Jeffries.
       Wells: Jamie Stromberg, Landon Smith.

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