WARSAW — Artists of any age and any medium now have the chance to showcase their talent through Purdue Extension Kosciusko County’s new Art of Agriculture contest.

The contest allows artists to submit a piece of art, whether it be painted, drawn, knitted, sewn or sculpted, to the Kosciusko County Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. March 1. The only requirement is that the artwork must represent an aspect of local agriculture.

“Art and agriculture are both very broad and diverse, yet crucial practices. Agriculture is the cultivation of food. Art is the cultivation of creativity and thought. We hope bringing the two together creates something beautiful,” said Mikaela Conley, Kosciusko County Purdue Extension’s special projects coordinator.

The gallery will be displayed at Creighton Brothers’ Crazy Egg Café March 5-16, Warsaw City Hall March 19- 30, and Warsaw Community Public Library April 2-6. The exhibition will end with a showcase at the Taste of Ag at the Kosciusko County fairgrounds April 10.

Youth kindergarten through fourth grade can participate in the junior division, while artists in grades 5-8 can participate in the intermediate division. The high school division encompasses entrants in grades 9-12 and anyone older than high school age can participate in the adult division. The community will have the opportunity to vote for a winner in each division.

Submissions must be packaged for shipping to ensure safe transportation to each gallery location. There is no entry fee.

School-age entries can also be submitted as 4-H projects to be judged at the 2018 Kosciusko County Fair. Enrollment can be completed at www.in.4honline.com.

“We wanted to plan something that would bring different members of the community together to highlight, learn about and celebrate agriculture in Kosciusko County,” Conley said. “This will give people who are any age and from any background a chance to come together and learn about something that is so crucial to their everyday lives.”

Contact the Kosciusko County Purdue Extension Office at (574) 372-2340, 202 W. Main St. Warsaw for more information or visit www.extension.purdue.edu/kosciusko.

Stay up to date on gallery hours and locations and local agriculture at facebook.com/KosciuskoAg.