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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences will honor five young Oregon essayists Feb. 1 for their eloquent writing in a national contest titled "Boundless Science for Bountiful Agriculture."

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), an Iowa-based national organization that disseminates scientific information on agricultural topics, sponsored the essay contest for middle school students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

The five Oregonians competed with 804 entrants across the nation to earn a place among the 149 district winners from whom state and national winners will be named.

Winning for Oregon at the district level are: Katie Searle of McMinnville, for her essay, "To Trust or Not to Trust: Science and Food Safety," Adam Hunt of Bend, "Ensuring a Bounty of Food and Natural Resources," Chandra Wafford of Sandy, "Atmospheric Impacts on World Food Supply," Micah Randall of Creswell, "Pros and Cons of Genetically Engineered Food," and Jaycie Loewen of Dallas, "The Question of Genes, Butterflies and Pesticides."

Thayne Dutson, dean of OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences, and Kevin Koong, a professor of animal sciences and the president of CAST, will announce the state essay contest winner during a luncheon Feb. 1 at VIP Day ceremonies at OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences. The state winner receives a $100 savings bond.

The essayists wrote up to 500 words on one of seven general topics relating to agriculture: Alternative Fuel Research; Ag Science in the City; Weather and Crop Production; Alternative Fuel Research; Conservation of Resources; Food Science and Nutrition; and Cultivating New Technologies.

University professors and professionals from agricultural communications and selected agricultural disciplines judged the contest entries.

Judges will name the national winner of the CAST essay contest in March. That winner will receive a $3,000 savings bond and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

According to its mission statement, CAST "assembles, interprets, and communicates science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally on food, fiber, agricultural, natural resource, and related societal and environmental issues to our stakeholders - legislators, regulators, policy makers, the media, the private sector, and the public."