MOUNT VERNON — When she submitted an essay in the National FFA Organization Risk Management Essay Contest, Abbey Nickel, a student at Mount Vernon High School and FFA member, had no idea her essay would be chosen as one of 10 winners from across the nation.

Nickel learned about the essay contest through her teacher/advisor, Brian Breece. Unsure at first, she hesitated to participate until after she’d done a little research.

“I decided that it would be a good opportunity and I should try it. And if I didn’t do well I can always do it again. I surprised myself in the end,” she said.