01 Apr HU Students Win State-Wide Agriculture Contest

Huntington University won an agriculture contest. Actually, it was a public relations contest, but it involved agriculture–a marketing/PR campaign to promote agriculture to young-adult Hoosiers (ages 18-35).

HU’s team, named “Hoosier Grown,” was among 30 teams from 17 Indiana colleges that submitted entries in the contest. The 30 teams were winnowed down to three finalists, who made presentations at the Statehouse.

And Huntington won with their proposal, which includes a new brand image, an integrated social-media marketing plan, and an increase in awareness of the agriculture economy and opportunities. The two runners-up were the University of Indianapolis and the University of Southern Indiana.

They won money, too. Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann presented a $25,000 check to the team–$10,000 for Huntington University, the rest to be divided among the seven student team members–four seniors, one junior, and two sophomores.

Dr. Ann McPherren (right) led the HU team, which included a mix of majors–public relations, film production, business administration and marketing, graphic design, animation, and biology pre-med. Some of the team members grew up on or currently work on farms and were members of 4-H or active in the FFA. One team member serves as his county’s membership chairman for the Indiana Farm Bureau.

The prize money came from outside sponsors, including Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Elanco, and Indiana Farm Bureau.