Washington: A couple in the US state of Virginia is offering their 35-acre picturesque farm valued at $600,000 for just $200 and a flawless 1,000-word essay on how the contestant will take care of the farm. Essays for the farm must be postmarked by October 1.

The Rock Springs Farm and its owners Randy Silvers and Carolyn Berry (below). Pics/Facebook

After reviewing them, the couple — Randy Silvers and Carolyn Berry — will select 25 finalists and pass the essays along to a panel of three judges — an educator, a hobby farmer and a horse enthusiast — who will select a winner on November 26. They are hoping to receive 5,000 essays, for a total of $1 million. “The opening paragraph has to grab you,” Berry said.