Win 47 Acres of Maine Wilderness With an Essay

An Innkeeper in Lovell got national attention earlier this year for giving away her inn to the person who wrote her the best essay. Now a woman in Edgecomb is doing a similar writing contest for land in Whitefield. 

The landowner, Martha Manchester, hopes to give the chance to own land to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to buy it. She hopes to make more than the fair market value for the land with $100 per essay. She plans to donate $10,000 of the earnings to the American Cancer Society and $10,000 to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter as well.

Manchester is hoping to get at least 3,000 essays but will set a limit of 3,500. Essays must be no more than 200 words describing what you would do with the property and postmarked by April 26. Four judges picked by Manchester will pick the winning essay based on wit, creativity, originality, human interest and expression of thoughts.

Manchester wouldn't say what she wanted to see done with the land because she doesn't want to influence entries, but she hopes someone does something good with it.

The biggest limitation is that no mobile homes will be allowed on the property as the deed specifies and the winner will need to sign an agreement saying they will use the land as they describe in their essay.

All the rules and how to enter can be found at Mainelandessay.com