A number of years ago, I wrote a pamphlet about these types of contests in New Hampshire and the surrounding area. I even reached out to the NH Secretary of State's office for an opinion on these types of contests. They were besieged with inquiries about the validity and legality of such a contest.

Since choosing a "best entry" is subjective, and not a game of chance, or the opposite, a predetermined outcome (such as a math problem), the opportunity for manipulation is fairly large. How could one dispute the determination of a winner?

In all likelihood, the persons involved in offering this farm are true. However, entrants should fully understand and accept the risks involved in such a contest.

A healthy outlook would be to treat this as a lottery. While putting forth your best effort in crafting an essay is imperative, understand that it all comes down to another's opinion, and that your chances are just that. A chance.