The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) awarded nine local winners in the Annual National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) Poster Contest. This year’s theme was Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators. “With over 200 entries from four different schools, choosing the winners was difficult,” noted Tricia Goes, Conservation Programs Specialist for UNWNRD, “we have some very talented students in our district.” Posters are judged on their conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality and universal appeal meaning the artistic aspect of each poster is important but teaching students about different aspects of conservation in the process is the main goal of this annual NRD event.
In the 2 nd – 3 rd grade age group the winners were:
First Place: Kinleigh Yada – Chadron
Second Place: Jess Wild – Chadron
Third Place: Autumn Richardson – Hay Springs
In the fourth through sixth grade age group the winners were:
First Place: Connor Butler – Hemingford
Second Place: Roudy Schommer – Chadron
Third Place: Lydia Gitch – Hemingford
And in the seventh through ninth grade age group the winners were:
First Place: Josie Sanders – Alliance
Second Place: Abigail Louden – Alliance
Third Place: Jozlin Dexter – Alliance
Each winner received a cash prize as well as a certificate to recognize their artistic efforts and their understanding of the conservation message. The first-place winners in each age group were then forwarded onto the State Competition for judgement as well. Connor Butler of Hemingford was selected as the state winner in the fourth – sixth grade age group promoting his poster onto the National Competition.
“We are thrilled by the turn out we had with posters this year and that we had a local resident win at the state level as well,” stated Kylen Armstrong, Conservation Programs Coordinator for UNWNRD. “Any opportunity we have to educate students about conservation is very important but having one of our students represent Western Nebraska at the national level makes it even more exciting.” Information on the next Poster Contest will be available next September. Please feel free to contact UNWNRD for any information regarding student activities in the meantime.