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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Greetings, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>On October 2nd at Washington, DC, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced the launch of the 2014 Agricultural Innovation Prize in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The competition is open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students across all academic disciplines and runs through spring 2014, when teams will compete for the chance to win $215,000 in prize money, with a grand prize of $100,000; making this the largest agriculture-focused student competition in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The contest encourages student teams to develop innovative plans to address social and agricultural challenges within food systems, improving the standard of living and quality of life for the world's population. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please visit <a href="http://agprize.com">http://agprize.com</a> to learn more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Please direct questions about the Ag Prize to <a href="mailto:team@agprize.com">team@agprize.com</a> . Students and staff at UW –Madison are very happy to answer any questions, or follow-up with you about this new exciting opportunity for students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Suresh<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>S. Sureshwaran</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Director - Division of Community and Education</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>v-202 720-2324 f-202-720-9366</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mailing Address:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>1400 Independence Avenue, SW</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Washington, D.C. 20250-2225</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Physical and Courier Address: </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>800 9th St. SW</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Waterfront Centre Rm. 4448</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Washington, D.C. 20024</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.nifa.usda.gov/">www.nifa.usda.gov</a> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:ssureshwaran@nifa.usda.gov">ssureshwaran@nifa.usda.gov</a> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Investing In Science | Securing Our Future</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><br><br><br><br>This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>