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.

• Entries must include a cover sheet with the following information: the entrant’s name, address, phone number, age as of Aug. 2, 2013, and parent/guardian’s name.
• If emailing, send to NEST@fnni.com no later than 11:59 p.m. Aug. 2, 2013. The subject line should read NEST on the Farm Scholarship.
• If mailing, address to First National Bank of Omaha, ATTN: NEST on the Farm Scholarship, 1620 Dodge St., Stop 1105, Omaha, NE 68197 (postmarked no later than Aug. 2, 2013).
• Each child must have a valid social security number and a Nebraska residential street address.
• The children must fall within their respective age groups on Aug. 2, 2013.

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. For scholarship contest rules, visit the NEST Direct College Savings Plan at www.NEST529direct.com or the State Treasurer’s Office at www.treasurer.org/csp.