HILLSBORO, Ohio — Several University of Arkansas students and an agricultural communications professor submitted films and photos to the Germinate International Film Fest, and their work was accepted for screening. Their films and still photographs were featured during the festival hosted in Hillsboro, Ohio.

Madelaine Giebler, a recent agricultural education, communications and technology graduate, submitted her photos, "Bullfrog" and "Cow in Herd." Lauren Griffin, another recent AECT graduate, submitted her photo titled "Sheep." Shane White, a journalism graduate student, submitted his photos, "Cow in Snow" and "Quapaw Nation Bison," and his film Armed to Farm. Jeff Miller, professor of agricultural communications, submitted a film titled One Egg.

The Germinate International Film Fest was hosted by Ohio State University Extension and Southern State Community College. The films and photos curated by the event showcase the challenges of rural life in America and how resilient those communities are. The Fest also provided an opportunity for open discussion about agricultural, environmental and rural topics that are important to the public. Prizes were awarded at the festival for the most outstanding work.

Miller said he encouraged his students to enter their work in order to earn some recognition for their accomplishments in agricultural communications and to contribute toward communicating to the public about agriculture.

"These students have special talents, and the Germinate festival was a great way for them to showcase their skills to audiences internationally," said Miller, who employs the students in his Agricultural Communications Experiential Learning Lab. "It was an honor just to have their work selected for screening."

White said this film festival and events like it are essential for the agriculture industry.

"Agriculture has provided life for thousands of years," said White. "People need to know more. Anything we can do to raise awareness is great."

White said he participates in the fest because of its purpose.

"It's really nice to see an organization like Germinate Film Fest bringing awareness to a topic that can't be overlooked," he said.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.