BlfrUncartw Farming. Saturday, February 1, 1987
JC idsfeorfrei*
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Fifth Grader Designs Billboard Displayed In Maryland
TANEYTOWN, Md.
They’re not many fifth graders
who design billboards and have the
honor of having their name
attached to it But this is exactly
what happened to Amy T. Ridin
ger of Tapeytown.
Her billboard is located along
Railroad Ave. (Rt. 27) in West
minster, Md.
Amy’s claim to fame began
when Cpl. Michael Bible visited
19 elementary schoolos in Carroll
Co., Maryland. He taught students
a course on seat belt safety. At the
end of the program, a Safety Poster
Contest was held. To create a post
er, each student was required to
use the words, “Safety Is Only A
Safety Poster Contest out of 1,146 entries. Back row from
left are Cpl. Michael Bible, community education officer;
Chief of Police Sam Leppo, Larry McKinney, priclpal; and
Lisa Blevins, fifth grade teacher of Taneytown Elementary
School.
Children’s Book
Explains The Harvest
HONESDALE (Wayne Co.)
Cris Peterson, a resident of
Grantsburg, Wisconsin, has writ
ten a new picture book for chil
dren photographed by Alvis Upitis
and published by Boyds Mills
Press.
“Harvest Year” documents
many of the fruits, vegetables,
eggs, dairy products, seafood, and
poultry produced in various reg
ions of our country in a month-to
month format. Ms. Peterson writes
with a first-hand appreciation for
the circle of life on American
farms and clearly presents her
story to young readers.
“It’s important for children and
adults to appreciate the incredible
abundance and diversity of
American agriculture,” she says.
“It’s one of our country’s greatest
strengths and a bit of a miracle.”
Ms. Peterson’s other book for
Boyds Mill Press, “Extra Cheese,
Please!” also beautifully photo
graphed by Alvis Upitis, focuses
on the process of making cheese,
from the birth of a calf to the top
ping on a pizza. The book won the
Wisconsin Library Association
Children’s Book Award for Out
Click Away. BUCKLE UP!”
From 1,146 posters ehtered
from the 19 schools, Amy’s was
declared the county winner.
Amy said, “I made the seat belt
purple because it’s my favorite
color. I put smiles on it because
you should be happy and glad you
are wearing a seat belt, if you are
ever in a crash. I put a heart on the
buckles, because if you love some
one enough you will buckle them
up too.”
Amy said that the Westminster
City Police Department had an
awards program, which included
videos on seat belts and air bags,
and the correct way to use them.
standing Achievement and the
Ohio Farm Bureau Women's
Award for Children’s Literature.
Cris Peterson, her husband,
Gary, and their three children
Ben, Matt, and Caroline grow
com, oats, and hay and milk SO
cows on their 300-acre Grantsburg
farm, which has been in Gary’s
family since 1877.
“My writing career began when
I gave mouth-to-mouth resuscita
tion to a newborn calf and I knew I
had a good stray,” she says. ‘The
calf lived and after a dozen re
writes the story sold. Both were
named ‘Breathless’.”
Bom in Minneapolis, Cris Pe
terson earned a bachelor of sci
ence degree in education from the
University of Minnesota. In addi
tion to writing, farming, and par
enting, she reviews children’s
books in her nationally syndicated
column, “Huckleberry Book
shelf,” and frequently speaks to
school students and farm groups.
“Harvest Year” and other Boy
ds Mills Press books are available
from your local bookseller or
Boyds Mills Press.
Also guest speaker, Srping Car
Racer Judd Shepard showed a
short video of a car crash.
Amy received a trophy and her
poster was sent to North Carolina
then back to Crickett LTd. in Red
Lion to be made into a billboard.
When the billboard was hung,
Amy was pictured standing under
neath it
Amy attends Tancytown
Elementary School where Mrs.
Lisa Blevins is her teacher. Her
parents are Teresa and Arthur
Ridinger of Tancytown, Md.
Amy reminds our readers,
“Safety is only a click away, so
BUCKLE UP!”
Amy Ridinger stand* beneath the billboard that was
painted with the poster she designed. The billboard hangs
along Railroad Ave., Rt. 27 in Westminster, Md.
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