The Branson Tri-Lakes News partners with the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce to hold its inaugural poetry contest celebrating National Poetry Month in April.
National Poetry Month is a time to celebrate the expressiveness, fun and charm of poetry, which was launched in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this fun and unique opportunity to area students,” said Mandy Farrow, publisher of Branson Tri-Lakes News. “We have reached out to area schools and home schooling groups to spread the word to get as many submissions as possible. We want to encourage writing and self-expression, what better way to do that than with a writing contest for National Poetry Month. »
The aim of the competition is to share the love of writing with local 7th and 8th graders who are invited to enter a poem into the competition.
Here are the rules and guidelines for entries:
– Poems must be an original poem in any form or style, written by Taney or Stone county grade 7 or 8 students.
– Poems must be 250 words or less in any form and there is no set theme.
– The poems must have a title.
– Registrations will be accepted between April 1st and April 15th.
– Author’s name, age, grade, school, and parent’s phone number (to contact winners) must accompany entries.
Entries must be submitted by email to
contest@bransontrilakesnews.com or delivered in person to the Branson Tri-Lakes News office, located at 200 Industrial Park Drive in Hollister.
The top 5 poems will be chosen by a jury and will be published in the Saturday, April 30 edition of the Branson Tri-Lakes News. A winning poem will be chosen from the Top 5.
The top 5 will receive prizes from local sponsors, will have the opportunity to appear on the radio stations, Legends 106.3 and My100.1, to read their poem on air.
“The community and businesses in the area have been great by donating amazing gifts for prize packages,” Farrow said. “We are still collecting donations, but so far we have prizes worth over $300 pledged by local businesses for our Top 5. Plus the ability for poets to go on radio stations to read their poems on the air.”
Additionally, the winning poem will receive a prize package with gifts from local sponsors, a plaque and their photo in the Branson Tri-Lakes News.
This is the first year that Branson Tri-Lakes News has held a poetry contest for National Poetry Month, but Farrow said she hopes it will be something that can be held every year.
“We would like to be able to organize this year and maybe even extend it in the future,” said Farrow.
For more information on the contest or to become a sponsor, contact AJ Meakins at ajmeakins@bransontrilakesnews.com.
