Each year, the Clay County VFW Auxiliary submits student essays to the Elementary Patriotic Essay Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa VFW Auxiliary, and is open to all youth in third, fourth and fifth grade.

“We’re always excited to (hold the contest),” Georgia Riley of the Clay County VFW said. “We’re very proud to do that for these kids. It brings a little bit of patriotism and Americanism into the schools, and we think it’s so important today.”