Shelby Watson Hampton of Brandywine, Maryland works with her family on their four generation family farm, Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards.  When Syngenta‘s Thrive #RootedinAg contest challenged growers to describe how their agriculture roots are helping them, their families and their communities thrive, Hampton responded with these words:

“I’m blessed to be able to say that my family’s roots in agriculture go back many generations and are steeped in a rich tradition of hard work, faith, family and farming … If it weren’t for my agricultural roots, I would not have had the tenacity to grow wings and take a more active part in my larger community.”

Her easy has won her the grand prize, a mini touch-screen tablet, a $500 gift card, and a $1,000 donation in her name that will be donated to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention  (AFSP).

“I’m choosing this charity because it’s something that has deeply affected my family, our friends and our small rural town many times,” Hampton says. “As a community, we joined the AFSP and formed a local chapter and walk team to help shed light on the issues surrounding mental health and suicide. We hope to reach out to those who are suffering and their families, so that we can make a positive difference in the world around us.”

“We congratulate Shelby, and thank everyone who took the time to tell us how agriculture is benefiting not only them as individuals, but also the lives of so many others,” said Wendell Calhoun, communications manager at Syngenta. “As a company, we understand their deep passion for our industry and credit our own agricultural roots with our ability to develop exceptional innovations and practical solutions for today’s – and tomorrow’s – growers.”

To learn more about the #RootedinAg contest and other ag news, visit www.syngentathrive.com.