A Rice Perspective from Generation Alpha

The second-place submission comes from Michaela Lirio of Corpus Christi, Texas. Michaela highlights the versatility of rice globally as a centerpiece of so many cultural cuisines. That versatility gives rice the ability to adapt to any dish it is served with, which she notes is also a defining feature of the United States as a nation. People from all countries, cultures, and walks of life call the USA home. Rice holds an important place in the cuisine and culture of many, and it fosters connections. No matter our backgrounds, we can all appreciate each other’s differences. She makes this powerful point at the end of her video: through rice, we find common ground at a shared table. You can view Michaela’s video Grains of Culture here.

Third Place
Third Prize was awarded to Madeleine Cheung from La Cañada Flintridge, California for her video, The Sustainable Journey of Rice Agriculture. Madeleine takes us on a tour of the rice-producing states to highlight the industry’s hard work in farming sustainably. She highlights how energy recycling and ingenuity have contributed to the rice industry’s 34 percent reduction in energy use and 41percent reduction in greenhouse gas. Conservation efforts have allowed rice fields to be a vital habitat and food source for birds, reptiles, fish, mammals, and ducks in the winter months.

Honorable Mentions
There were four Honorable Mention submissions. Kinzie Brassell from Iowa, Louisiana highlighted the culture and community that rice production has brought to her home state in her video Life Behind the Rice Dryer. Joseph Chen from Bentonville, Arkansas submitted R.I.C.E.: Resilience, Innovation, Culture, & Environment to convey how rice serves as a connection to his familial roots. Joseph emphasizes how rice is at the heart of cultures across the world and how, in his dreams, he sees friends from every country gathered to share rice dishes that reflect their history and culture.

Julia McConnell of Grand Prairie, Texas shared her energetic, on-the-run video U.S. Grown Only. In this video, she shares all the reasons she loves U.S. rice, including information on the health benefits of rice consumption, the number of American rice farmers and their financial contribution to their local economies, and the water recycling system used to make farming more sustainable.

Uma Inaishi from Porter Ranch, California submitted a video title A Taste of Childhood. It is an artistic journey of a woman cooking and preparing a bento box with U.S.-grown rice. California-grown rice played a central role in the bento boxes Uma’s mother crafted for her throughout her life. For Uma, the bento box represents connection, both to her friends at school each day and to her mother. As she grew, the bento box contents became more complex and sophisticated, but the rice remained the shining star.

Natalie Younger from Bossier city, Louisiana submitted Rice Rap, which she also wrote and performed. Her creative rhymes are packed with facts about the U.S. rice industry and highlight the health benefits of consuming rice in your diet.

Every submission offered new and insightful views on rice and the industry within the U.S., but there were key facts that impressed each of the college-bound creators. They each highlighted how 85 percent of the rice consumed within the U.S. is grown and prepared here. Several submissions spoke of the adaptability and versatility of rice on the table. It is a core part of traditional cultural dishes around the globe and brings us all together to share a meal at the table, no matter where we hail from.

All in all, the contest submissions prove that rice is truly appreciated by these soon-to-be high school graduates, bringing a unique connection to each of their lives.