(Plymouth, Minn.) - Outdoor News, Inc., publisher of locally written fishing and hunting outdoor newspapers in seven Great Lake states, announced the winners of its annual Youth Writing Contest for students in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Illinois. Outdoor News readers will find the 2014 winning entries published in the December issues.
Outdoor News, Inc., has promoted the writing contest since 1998, which encourages young people to submit an outdoors-oriented essay or poem. Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to win a plaque and either a $100 first-place or a $50 second-place cash prize award thanks to an Outdoor News' partnership with Cabela's. In addition to being published in one of the seven Outdoor News publications, the winning entries also have their submission expenses paid and are entered into the national Outdoor Writers Association of America annual writing contest. The OWAA contest offers the chance for youth writers to earn additional cash prizes and recognition.
"Historically, the entries that come through the Outdoor News Youth Writing Contest, and are entered into the OWAA contest, fare very well," said company President Rob Drieslein. The OWAA publication, Outdoors Unlimited, included the winning entries of the 2014 OWAA Norm Strung Youth Writing Awards in its December 2014/January 2015 issue. Of the 12 OWAA winners, nine originated through the Outdoor News Youth Writing contest in 2013.
The OWAA writing contest mission is to foster the next generation of outdoors communicators, and the 2014 Norm Strung Youth Writing Awards Committee recently awarded prizes totaling $1,700. The annual contest has categories for poetry and prose in two divisions: junior (grades 6-8) and senior (grades 9-12). First-place winners received $250; second-place winners received $125; and third-place winners received $100. A list of this year's winners is published at www.owaa.org/contests/norm-strung-youth-writingawards. OWAA is now accepting entries for the 2015 contest. The deadline is March 16, 2015.
About Cabela's, Inc.: Headquartered in Sidney, Neb., Cabela's is a leading specialty retailer and the world's largest direct marketer of hunting, fishing, camping, and related outdoor merchandise.
About Outdoor News, Inc.: Outdoor News provides in-depth coverage of hunting, fishing, archery, conservation and outdoor activities including analysis of state and national outdoor agencies, local lake maps and fishing reports. With regional editors, columnists and sales representatives in seven states, Outdoor News, Inc. newspapers are subscription-based. Look for the Outdoor News booth at one of this season's sport shows to subscribe, or visit www.outdoornews.com or call (800) 535-5191.
Media Contact: Evy Gebhardt, Outdoor News Publications (763) 398-3455 or evy@outdoornews.com
