Oddity Central

Win a $450,000 Organic Farm by Writing a 200-Word Essay

Posted: 07 Feb 2017 02:30 PM PST

Award-winning architect-turned-farmer Norma Burns has been running her organic farm in Bennet, North Carolina, for the last 18 years, but she’s now looking to turn over a new leaf, so she’s giving the farm away to whoever wins her essay contest.

Norma says that the Bluebird Hill Farm has been “everything” to her during the last 18 years, but she’s come to realize that she just can’t put in the work required to keep everything in order anymore. She has decided to go back to the city, but wants to make sure that she leaves her beloved farm in good hands. Although it’s been appraised at around $450,000, the dedicated farmer doesn’t want to sell her property, but give it away to a couple who can best explain why they would be her best choice, in a 200-word essay. Applicants must turn in their literary work by June 1st, 2017, and pay a $300 contest entry fee.

“To me, there’s no better calling in life than raising organic food,” Norma Burns said. “I'm looking for a like-minded couple who have experience and training in organic farming and are willing and able to put in the long days and hard work that farming requires. The only thing they don’t have is an actual farm. I want to make it possible for these new farmers to get started.”

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Posted: 07 Feb 2017 12:38 PM PST

Harambe the gorilla was slain at the Cincinnati Zoo last year, during a controversial incident, but his spirit lives on in a seemingly endless number of Internet memes and jokes. A recent eBay auction of a single Flamin’ Hot Cheeto shaped like the famous silverback gorilla proves that Harambe is still as popular as ever.

On January 28, eBay user valuestampsinc listed a Flamin’ Hot Cheeto that resembled an orange, puffy version of Harambe, setting the minimum bid at a decent $11.99. The listing included a photo of the unique Cheeto alongside a photo of the real Harambe climbing a tree, and the resemblance was clearly close enough to justify the asking price. However, after the listing went viral on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, the bidding got out of control, and by February 7, at 3:45 am, when the bidding was scheduled to end, the Harambe-shaped Cheeto had been acquired for a whopping $99,900. eBay has confirmed that the item was valid and available for purchase, but has not commented on whether payment has been made.

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