IMAGINE IF YOUR WRITING COULD EARN YOU SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER – LIKE A LIFE-CHANGING PRIZE! ONE NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN IS OFFERING JUST THAT TO THE WINNER OF AN ESSAY CONTEST.
DAVID GRZYBOWSKI HAS MORE.
Nat Sound:
NORMA BURNS SITS IN HER WHITE WOODEN CHAIR LOOKING INTO HER ALMOST 13 ACRES OF FARMLAND.
FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS THE BLUEBIRD HILL FARM HAS BEEN HER HOME.
BUT BURNS BELIEVES IT'S TIME FOR A NEW CHAPTER.
Norma Burns/Bluebird Hill Farm:
"It's too much work for one person. I've worked from dawn til dark for most of the 18 years. And I just, I just... My body won't let me do it anymore."
SO SHE'S CREATED A CONTEST TO WIN HER LAND. IT'S CALLED A GIFT OF GOOD LAND.
THIS CONTEST IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.
NORMA IS LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL COUPLE. PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO FARM LIFE.
THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE FARM CONTEST IS JUNE FIRST.
REQUIREMENTS ARE A 200-WORD ESSAY, A RESUME AND A 300-DOLLAR ENTRY FEE.
Nat Sound:
Norma Burns/Bluebird Hill Farm:
"The first person who called said is this for real. And I said yes it is. It's for real. For sure."
NORMA'S PHONE HAS NOT STOPPED RINGING, PEOPLE CALLING TO GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT HER FARM.
BESIDES THE HOUSE, THERE'S A BIG RED BARN, A LARGE LAKE, AND A CHICKEN COOP.
Norma Burns/Bluebird Hill Farm:
"As soon as it went out it just kind of exploded. I've heard from people I haven't heard from in 20 years. Calling and saying oh I wish I could have that farm. Most of them are too old. So it's just been a real surprise. A pleasant surprise."
SHE PLANS ON PICKING 20 OF THE BEST ESSAYS AND THEN LETTING A PANEL OF JUDGES MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.
AFTER NORMA LEAVES HER FARM SHE WILL THEN HEAD UP TO CHAPEL HILL AND LIVE IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
THE THOUGHT OF SAYING GOODBYE IS NOT EASY.
Norma Burns/Bluebird Hill Farm:
"It's just been everything to me for the last 18 years."
Nat Sound:
REPORTING FROM BENNETT. DAVID GRZYBOWSKI. CBS NORTH CAROLINA.
---SUGGESTED TAG--
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER THE CONTEST.
THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT AN ESSAY IS JUNE FIRST.
FIND OUT MORE AT BLUEBIRD HILL FARM ESSAY CONTEST DOT COM.
Instructional Links
Magazine Article: Our State, Celebrating North Carolina, The Lavender Plant, May 29, 2012 | Discusses Norma Burns & Bluebird Hill Farm