By Ron VandenBoom
Kelli Kelsey and Joseph Bailey are the two winners of the Gary and Leo's Fresh Foods/Coca Cola Hometown Trees essay contest.
Kelsey is a student in Judy Ireland's second grade class at Lincoln McKinley School in Havre and Bailey is in the eighth grade class of Debbie Childree at Davey School southeast of Havre.
Each winning student's class will receive a pizza party as their prize.
Students from grade schools in Havre and the surrounding area were asked to write an essay with the theme "Why do I like trees" in 25 words or less.
A panel of judges reviewed the entries and selected the winners.
Judges were Randy Graves, Nathan Graves, Dave Wilson, Pamela Smith, Betty Bauer, Virginia Ettien, Arlie Lane, Bev Prim, Bob Brastrup, and Dominic Amato.
Kelsey wrote of the many uses of trees.
"Why do I like trees?
I like trees because they make our world a prettier place.
They're homes for animals.
They give us food.
They make a good Christmas tree."
Bailey took a more poetic approach to his theme.
"I love trees, if you please!
I climb tree, lake a monkey.
I love trees in the breeze.
I love trees, if you please!"
