<h3>By Marie D. Lewis</h3>
Three fifth-grade art students at St. Helena Elementary School were recently awarded certificates and cash prizes for their participation in designing a logo for the Gullah Farmer’s Cooperative (GFC) Association.

Under the direction of art teacher Michelle Thomas, the students competed in an art contest to help the Gullah Farmers Coop create a logo for their organization.

More than 20 students participated and there were eight semi-finalists: Myniya Charles, Jamarion James, Jamar Knight, Lamar Knight, Asia Robinson, Jarell Seabrook-Fripp, Renesha Simmons and De’Ziyah Smalls.

The final winners were selected by GFC members. They were Jamar Knight, first place; Myniya Charles, second place; and Asia Robinson, third place.

The finalists were recognized during the annual school awards ceremony and certificates and cash awards were presented by GFC president, Joseph McDomick.

The Gullah Farmer’s Cooperative Association consists of a small group of local farmers from the Lowcountry area. The mission and purpose of the organization is to create and provide significant food markets for the crops of local farmers.

“Our goal is to market seasonal crops such as collards and broccoli to the Eastern and Southeastern United States in large bulk shipments,” said McDomick. “Our vision includes decreasing the pressure on land development in this area by making farming more economically feasible.”

The GFC organization also emphasized the concern for the health of local citizens and the preservation of local farming, which has been so important to the history of the Lowcountry.

<em>Photo at top: The winners of the Gullah Farmers Cooperative logo contest are Jamar Knight, first place; Myniya Charles, second place; and Asia Robinson, third place.</em>

[caption id="attachment_28998" align="alignright" width="1020"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/gullah2-e1466707163809.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-28998"><img class="size-large wp-image-28998" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/gullah2-e1466707163809-1024x852.jpg" alt="The first-place logo for the Gullah Farmers Cooperative is shown here." width="1020" height="849" /></a> The first-place logo for the Gullah Farmers Cooperative is shown here.[/caption]