Tar Wars National Poster Contest Winner Offers Idea to Chew On

Tar Wars isn't just about teaching kids not to smoke. It's about teaching them to stay away from all forms of tobacco. And, at this time of year, it's about taking that critical message to federal lawmakers.

Alexa Barrett, an 11-year-old from American Falls, Idaho, was named the AAFP initiative's national poster contest winner on July 13 during the Tar Wars National Conference in Washington, D.C. Barrett's poster featured a drawing of a cow accompanied by the slogan, "Cows are smart, they don't chew, they moo."

"That's pretty unique," said Pam Rodriguez, AAFP's tobacco control manager. "I don't think we've had a poster focused on chewing tobacco. The posters' messages are usually about smoking, but Tar Wars is about preventing all kinds of tobacco use."

Family physicians and other health care workers across the country present Tar Wars tobacco-free education programs to fourth- and fifth-graders in their local schools each year, discussing the toll tobacco takes on health, as well as the financial costs of tobacco use. More than 8 million children have heard the tobacco-free message since the program's inception in 1988.

The program, which is supported by the AAFP Foundation and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, culminates each year with a national poster contest made up of submissions from state-level poster contest winners. As the 2009 national contest winner, Barrett will receive a family trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., worth as much as $3,000.

"The program has really taught me a lot, like what really is in cigarettes and smoke and what it can do to you," Barrett told AAFP News Now.

Rodriguez said 29 of 38 state poster contest winners and members of their families made the trip to Washington, D.C. After an awards ceremony on July 13, the children visited about 50 members of the House and Senate the following day, presenting their legislators with copies of their posters.

"I like to let the kids tell them about the program and their posters," said Peggy Drzayich, Tar Wars coordinator for the Idaho AFP. "It's a great experience for them. I just love this trip. It's such a great opportunity for students to learn about the workings of government."

Barrett, for example, met with Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

Risch praised Tar Wars for educating young people about the dangers of tobacco use and said it was a "great honor" to have the contest winner come from Idaho.

"Smoking is one of the biggest drains on the health care system," he said.

In addition to Barrett, a number of other state-level poster winners were recognized during the awards ceremony.

All state winners who attend the national conference receive a prize packet that includes a certificate of appreciation, a ribbon, a color copy of their poster and a special gift.