The CWB has launched a national contest to celebrate World Pasta Day on October 25, encouraging children to send a big thank you to Prairie “spaghetti farmers” for producing the main ingredient in pasta, an unfailing kids’ favourite.

“Pasta is big business for farmers in Western Canada, where we produce more durum wheat than anywhere on earth,” said CWB chair Larry Hill, who grows durum and other crops near Swift Current, Sask.

With pasta also a big staple food for consumers, the CWB chose “big” as the theme for World Pasta Day this year.

Kids are urged to create an original thank-you message to farmers who grow Canada Western Amber durum (CWAD) wheat, used to make pasta all over the world.

Entries can take the form of letters, cards, posters, poems or whatever shows pasta appreciation in the most creative way.

The grand prize is a Nintendo Wii, a family dinner at a Spaghetti Factory restaurant and a case of GrainWise pasta from Primo Foods.

More details about the contest, open to kids 12 and under, can be found on the CWB’s consumer website, www.prairiewheat.ca.The entry deadline is Nov. 20.