Eight finalists are competing for the most online votes to win $1,000 in the “Because I Care” video contest, sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s (OFBF) Center for Food and Animal Issues.

Forty-three videos containing positive and informative messages about livestock farming were submitted by Ohio farmers, county Farm Bureaus, youth and other agricultural organizations between July 1 and Sept. 24. Each entry was required to be 90-120 seconds long and made publicly available on YouTube.com.

“We are very pleased with the overall quality of videos in the contest, and the messages they share,” said David White, OFBF senior director of issues management and the Animals for Life Foundation. “The eight chosen finalists did the best overall job of communicating their messages in a creative, original manner. It’s very clear they take tremendous care of their animals”

“We need to have more farmers regularly sharing their stories online,” White said. “There are a lot of anti-animal agriculture videos on the Web, and they needed no prizes or incentives to be there.”

The finalist receiving the most online votes at http://bit.ly/BecauseICare by Oct. 28 will be declared the People’s Choice Grand Prize Winner, and receive a $1,000 pre-paid gift card. Visitors to the site may vote once per day for any of the videos.

Finalists include:

• Bits N Bridles 4-H Club, Licking County – “Because I Care about my horses”
• Carrollton FFA Chapter, Carroll County – “Because We Care”
• Fort Loramie FFA Chapter, Shelby County – “FL Ag Ed – Because I Care”
• Nicki Gordon-Coy, Carroll County – “We Care For Cattle”
• Lisa Gress, Wayne County – “BecauseWeCare”
• Steve Humpal, Ashtabula County – “Happy Healthy Boer Goats”
• Meadowbrook FFA Chapter, Guernsey County – “The Meadowbrook FFA Cares!”
• Janice Stark, Cuyahoga County – “Backyard Poultry”

Entries receiving honorable mention include:

• Dream Catcher’s 4-H Club, Harrison County – “Dream Catcher’s Because I Care”
• Nicki Gordon-Coy, Carroll County – “We Care for Our Chickens”
• Steve Humpal, Ashtabula County – “Static’s Big Date”
• Jefferson County Farm Bureau – “Jefferson County Farm Bureau Cares”
• Kountry Buddies 4-H Club, Tuscarawas County – “Kountry Buddies 4-H Club Care”

View an archive of all videos submittted in the Because I Care Contest.

Ohio Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farming organization, with more than 214,000 members from farmers to foodies and more. It’s not a requirement that one be a farmer to join. Learn more about becoming an Ohio Farm Bureau member.