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The National Association of Conservation Districts determines the annual stewardship theme. This year's theme is "Soil to Spoon." It is important to understand where the food comes from that you eat each day. You see a wide variety of products in your local grocery store. But where does it all come from? What is the connection to the soil you walk on each day?
The annual conservation poster contest provides kindergarteners through twelfth graders with an opportunity to share their thoughts about water and related natural resource issues. Posters are evaluated on the following criteria: conservation message, originality, visual effectiveness, and universal appeal. At the local level, students of the winning posters are given prizes, ribbons, and their posters are displayed at the Lake County Fair.
Click here to view winning posters.
As a poster wins first place in a contest, it proceeds to the next level contest as listed below:
- Local contest
- Area contest
- State contest
- National contest
Alex Sainz and Supervisor Peggy Belflower.
TOPIC: Should food crops be used for fuel?
Lake Soil and Water Conservation District sponsors the annual contest, which is designed to develop
leadership and stimulate interest in conserving natural resources. Nine contestants gave speeches
on Nov. 17th, that were judged on content, composition, delivery and time criteria.
Alex Sainz, a sixth grade student at Lake Montessori and Learning Institute, won first place. By winning at the local level, Sainz is eligible to compete at the Area 3 Association of Florida Conservation Districts’ contest in May 2012.
Second and third place winners for the speech contest include:
- Emily Waddington - Second place
- Emmie Palmer - Third place
The Association of Florida Conservation Districts determines the annual topic. The first place winner proceeds to the Area contest, and if first place, will advance to the State contest.
The nineth annual Lake Regional Envirothon was
held on Feb. 16, 2012 with 21
teams from Lake County. Middle and High School
students gathered at the Hickory Point Recreational
Facility in Tavares to compete in a natural resources
education event, which includes a written exam and
hands-on investigations.
The five-member teams are led by an advisor in
studying prepared resource materials on aquatics,
forestry, wildlife, soils and a selected current environmental
issue, which for 2012 was "Nonpoint Source Pollution/Low Impact Development."
High School Division
1st Place: "Squirrel Scouts" - Advisor Tessa Clark and Joan Wukotich, Leesburg High School
2nd Place: "Thunder Zucchini" - Advisor Betsy Farner, Tavares High School
3rd Place: "Impeccable Pandas" – Advisor Betsy Farner, Tavares High School
Middle School Division
1st Place: "Destructive Interference" - Advisor Katrina Palmer, Lake Montessori & Learning Institute
2nd Place: "Gray Gators" - Advisor Casey Ferguson, Gray Middle School
3rd Place: "Zazzy Syzygies" - Advisor Katrina Palmer, Lake Montessori & Learning Institute
The top scoring team is eligible to compete in the Florida Envirothon at Myakka RiverState Park on April 28, 2012.
The annual Land Judging competition was held on March 8, 2012, at Lake May Reserve, a Lake County public lands property outside of Eustis. The Lake Soil & Water Conservation District invited middle and high school students in Future Farmers of America to test their knowledge by judging soils from four pits that were selected by Manuel Matos, Soil Scientist with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Participants mark individual scorecards for evaluation of soil characteristics and how they relate to farming, range management, and homesite construction. The skills the teens use at the contest involve principles that can be valuable in career fields like environmental and agricultural management, natural resources conservation, home building, engineering, and construction.
The first place middle and high school teams are eligible to compete in the State Land Judging competition that will be held in Reddick, Marion County on March 30, 2012.
High School Division
1st place - East Ridge High School Team A
2nd place - East Ridge High School Team B
3rd place - Umatilla High School FFA
Middle School Division
1st place - Clermont Middle School Team A
2nd place - Clermont Middle School Team B
High School Individual High Score
1st place - Savannah Olson, East Ridge High School Team A
2nd place - Miranda Bartlett, East Ridge High School Team A
3rd place - Luke Caudill, East Ridge High School Team A
Middle School Individual High Score
1st place - Kyle Garner, Clermont Middle School Team B
2nd place - Drew Mendoza, Clermont Middle School Team A
3rd place - Chris Brown, Clermont Middle School Team A
 The Lake Soil & Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Florida Forestry Service, gave away over 1,800 bare-root trees, at the Lake County Agricultural Center in Tavares, on January 19, 2012.
Each person was allowed one tree, approximately 6-18 inches, of each available variety:
Dogwood, Southern Magnolia, Red Maple, Sabal Palm, Redbud, Myrtle Leaf Holly and Pine.
Next year’s tree give-away is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, January 17, 2013.
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