Winners Announced for 57th Annual America & Me Essay Contest

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan is pleased to announce the 10 statewide winners of the 2025-26 America & Me Essay Contest. We proudly salute these outstanding Michigan students. This year's winners competed against more than 3,000 other students from nearly 200 Michigan junior highs and middle schools. The student essays for this, the 57^th annual contest, were based on the topic, "My Personal Michigan Hero."

The America & Me Essay Contest was founded by Farm Bureau Insurance in 1968 to embolden Michigan youth as they explore their roles in America's future. Since then, we have shifted our focus slightly to encourage students to write about their personal Michigan heroes-someone they know personally who encouraged and inspired them to live better and achieve more. Since its inception, over 500,000 Michigan 8th graders have participated in the contest.

During the 57^th contest year, each recipient will receive a plaque, medallion, a cash award of $1000, $1,000 for the school they attend, and $500 to the school if the school has been sponsored by a Farm Bureau Insurance agent.

As part of this annual recognition, an awards banquet will be held in Lansing on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. In addition, finalists will meet with state government leaders at the Michigan State Capitol and Treasury offices and be honored as special guests at a Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball game prior to the Award Ceremony.

The top ten statewide winners included (in order of finish, from 1^st to 10^th place) Delaney Noteboom of Dutton Christian in Caledonia (sponsored by agent, Marcus Huisman), Vivienne Wheeler of Hartland Middle School in Hartland, Michael Pietrowski of Bedford Jr. High School in Bedford (sponsored by agent, Kelsey Starr), Onnika Plume of Rogers City Middle & High School in Rogers City, Olivia O'Donnell of Avondale Middle School in Rochester Hills, Clara Thelen of Most Holy Trinity in Fowler (sponsored by agent, Jared Feldpausch), Alexis Okete of St. Pius Catholic School in Southgate, Joseph Bingham of Holy Name Catholic School in Birmingham, Francesca Folkert of Grand Haven Christian School in Grand Haven, and Kaylee Syring of Cramer Jr High in Essexville.

You can read these students' winning submissions at:
https://www.michfb.com/about/community-involvement/america-me-essay-contest

As sponsor of the contest, Farm Bureau Insurance has earned 11 national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Farm Bureau Insurance encourages interested 8^th Grade Teachers to be on the lookout for materials to register when the 58^th annual contest kicks off in Fall of 2026. Visit the America & Me Essay Contest homepage or message [email protected] for more information.