Young writers who live on Nebraska farms or ranches or whose parents work on farms or ranches have until Aug. 2 to submit essays in the 3rd annual NEST on the Farm essay contest.
The contest is sponsored by Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg and First National Bank of Omaha, program manager for the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST). Treasurer Stenberg is Trustee of NEST.
The NEST on the Farm essay contest is divided into three categories: ages 7- 9, ages 10-11, and ages 12-13. The first-place winner in each age category will receive a $3,500 scholarship contribution to a NEST college savings account. One runner-up in each age category will receive a $1,000 contribution to a NEST college savings account.
Treasurer Stenberg will recognize the winners Sept. 11 in the Nebraska Farmer tent at Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island.
“The NEST on the Farm essay contest is an opportunity for Nebraska young people to share their experiences of farm and ranch life and to describe how those experiences shape their educational goals. The prizes are significant for both winners and runners-up and will give these young people an excellent start in their effort to save for college,” Stenberg said.
Children and teens are asked to write about how being part of a farm family influences their goals for higher education. Typed entries of no more than 750 words each must be submitted by mail or email by Aug. 2. Winners will be selected on Aug. 23.
The scholarship will be awarded to the child or teen and deposited into an account owned by the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, held on behalf of the winner.
About First National Bank of Omaha
First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have more than $23 billion in assets and 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.
About NEST
NEST is a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan and provides four plans to help make saving for college simple and affordable: NEST Direct College Savings Plan, the NEST Advisor College Savings Plan, the Bloomwell 529 Education Savings Plan, and the State Farm 529 Savings Plan. The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as Program Trustee. Union Bank & Trust Company serves as Program Manager, and all investments are approved by the Nebraska Investment Council. Families nationwide are saving for college using Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans, which have more than 285,000 accounts, including over 94,000 in Nebraska. Visit NEST529.com and treasurer.nebraska.gov for more information.
