Wisconsin Essay Contest Winner Announced

Isabel Cupino of Oconto Falls, Wis., has been named the Wisconsin winner of the 2009 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “Homegrown Fuels: Good for American Agriculture.”

In her contest entry, Cupino said: “Ultimately, the increased usage of these alternative fuels decreases the demand for oil. Reducing our dependency on this non-renewable resource will offer America the opportunity for an economic boost through the advancement and development of the biofuel industry on our own soil.”

Cupino is a student at Oconto Falls High School and a member of the Oconto Falls FFA chapter. Her FFA advisors are Crystal Retzlaff and Beth Porior.

As the contest winner, Cupino will receive a $500 scholarship from GROWMARK at the Wisconsin FFA State Convention, held in Madison during June. The Oconto Falls FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of her accomplishment to help future students.

Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 scholarship. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are: Sarah Henderson, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau FFA; Brad Hesebeck, Clinton FFA; Ben Julka, Laconia FFA, and Breanne Wieser, Elk Mound FFA.

Students were asked to describe renewable homegrown fuels made with agricultural commodities and the benefits they provide.

This is the sixteenth year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

Cupino's essay is below.

BIOFUELS: GOOD FOR COOPERATIVES, GOOD FOR AMERICA

“Homegrown fuels will help America reach our goal of a more domestic fuel source. The use and production of E diesel, biodiesel, and ethanol will essentially add to U.S. gasoline supplies and strengthen our independency from foreign oil.”
-Lewis Bowman
Servco FS Cooperative
Antigo, WI

E diesel, biodiesel, and ethanol are three of the most advantageous types of biofuels. E diesel is composed of diesel, ethanol, and other additives that prevent the ethanol and biodiesel from separating at very low temperatures. This biofuel helps unmodified diesel engines to burn cleaner. Currently, E diesel fuels are considered experimental, but they can be used in off-road application and have shown to release considerably less greenhouse gas emissions.

Biodiesel is a clean-burning fuel that is produced from domestic and renewable resources. It is derived from natural oils like soybean oil. It contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. In 2008, the United States was estimated to have produced 700 million gallons of biodiesel.

Ethanol is a renewable alcohol fuel made mostly from agricultural resources such as corn, switch grass, and sugar cane. Mid-level blends of ethanol like E20 and E50 are less expensive than standard gasoline, but have been shown to increase the gas mileage on many vehicles. According to a study from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, ethanol production has also caused retail gasoline prices to be $0.29 to $0.40 per gallon lower than what would have otherwise been the case. The United States is the leading producer of ethanol, producing 6,498,600 gallons of the grain-based alcohol in 2007.

However, this amount has yet to make a dent in the world oil consumption of 4,000 million tons of oil per year.

Today the U.S. imports more than half of its oil, leaving American consumers at the mercy of other oil-exporting nations. The use of E diesel, diesel, and ethanol reduced our dependence on these foreign and non-renewable oils, enhances our energy security, and contributes to our own economy. These domestic biofuels also create thousands of new American jobs that cannot be outsourced, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support rural communities and farmers.

So what do the major engine manufacturers say about these alternative fuels? When I asked Mr. Bowman, he mentioned the recent ethanol mandate in Washington D.C. to increase the blend rate of ethanol from the current 10 percent to 15 percent. Mr. Bowman said that the major automakers are behind this mandate as it would be a way to reduce reliance on petroleum imports and give a needed boost to the future of the industry.

Mr. Bowman also put an emphasis on the importance of cooperatives, saying that, “Cooperatives matter to our country in the current energy crisis because biofuels are the fuel source of the future. Cooperatives help farmers to produce the crops necessary to manufacture these biofuels by giving them a better price for their product and by making it easier for them to buy more inexpensive equipment and supplies. And, since cooperatives are member-owned, the whole community benefits instead of one or two individuals.”

Ultimately, the increased usage of these alternative fuels decreases the demand for oil. Reducing our dependency on this non-renewable resource will offer America the opportunity for an economic boost through the advancement and development of the biofuel industry on our own soil. Cooperatives further the production of biofuels by significantly helping member-owners to produce the crops needed. By asserting our energy independence and taking control of our fuel supply and demand, it could also positively impact our national security and foreign policy.

The grassroots efforts of cooperatives, such as Servco FS in Antigo, are helping Americans take control of ever unstable energy prices. I believe that farmers and cooperatives are ready, willing, and able to lead the United States toward energy security and independence.